Dave Beattie

Dave coordinates sports in the Upper North Island - South and East region and is particularly focused on school programmes.

After spending time as a physical education teacher and coach for numerous sports ranging from gymnastics to swimming to rugby, Dave saw the turn of the century as a challenge to experience life outside of the education sector. He spent a short period building and painting houses before coming across an opportunity to work with Special Olympics New Zealand.

He was charged with the task of developing a secondary schools sports programme for over 100 Auckland schools  and developed Ribbon Days for students. This was exactly what schools in the region were looking for and they flocked to the events; they became so popular that two extra staff are now employed to help manage them!

Dave is a great believer in the motto ‘changing lives through sport’ and is continually blown away by athletes’ improvement in skills, confidence and self esteem.

Dave lives in the small rural community of Onewhero, where his lifestyle block has provided a home to a menagerie including cats, dogs, cows, bantams, geese, lambs and a cockatiel.

When not at work, Dave can be found working with Swimming New Zealand as a National Referee and member of the Technical Advisory Committee or at his local drama theatre where he works as a lighting technician.

Click here to learn more about Special Olympics in Dave's region.