Special Olympics New Zealand offers a year-round programme of sports training and competition for children and adults with an intellectual disability.
More than 6000 athletes throughout New Zealand participate in the 13 different Olympic-type summer and winter sports offered by Special Olympics New Zealand. These athletes are supported by over 2500 volunteers and an impressive list of partners.
While sport is the basis of the organisation, the benefits of participating in Special Olympics are much greater than physical fitness. Special Olympics changes lives. Through participating in sport, athletes with intellectual disabilities make friends; they gain confidence; they get to be part of a team. As athletes develop physically and emotionally, they learn that they can achieve not only on the sports field, but in the community.