Games

Following local events, the Games level is the next step in an athlete’s competition pathway.

Regional Games

Regional Games are what their name implies: sports competitions for athletes from within a region. Regional Games are usually held over two days and involve an overnight stay but some sports may only require one day of competition. Regional Games are typically centred on one sport but sometimes offer more than one sport.

In the lead-up to National Games, athletes must participate in Ribbon Days and Regional Games.

National Games

National Games are multi-day sports competitions. Athletes gather from around the country to compete in a variety of season-specific sports. An individual athlete must choose just one sport in which to compete.

National Games are held on a residential basis. For some athletes, going to National Games is the first time they’ve travelled away from home! National Games usually offer other activities in addition to sports such as Healthy Athletes.

Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games and Special Olympics New Zealand National Winter Games are each held every four years. They are held on an alternating two-year schedule. The 2011 National Winter Games wias held in Central Otago and will happen again in 2015 (location to be determined); the next National Summer Games will be in 2013 in Dunedin and again in 2017 (location to be determined).

Special Olympics New Zealand’s last National Summer Games were held in Palmerston North in December 2009. 

A commemorative DVD of the Games is available for sale for $22. To purchase, contact Angela Day.

In the lead-up to World Games, athletes must participate in National Games.

Trans Tasman Games

Sometimes there are opportunities for athletes from Special Olympics New Zealand to travel to Australia to participate and compete in Regional and National Games there. Likewise, athletes from Australia can sometimes participate in New Zealand.

Clubs will be notified as opportunities come up for Trans Tasman competition.

Asia Pacific Games

Special Olympics New Zealand plans to participate in various competitions based in the Special Olympics Asia Pacific region. Clubs will be notified when those opportunities arise.

Five Special Olympics New Zealand bocce players competed at the 2010 Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce Competition in Brunei Darussalam in late September and early October 2010.

World Games

Special Olympics World Games are multi-day sports competitions that gather athletes from around the world. Competition is available in a variety of season-specific sports.

World Games are held on a residential basis and offer other activities in addition to sports such as Healthy Athletes, Host Town Programme and Athlete Congress.

Special Olympics World Summer Games and Special Olympics World Winter Games are each held every four years. They are held on an alternating two-year schedule. The 2011 World Summer Games were held in Greece in and the 2013 World Winter Games will be in Korea.