The inaugural Special Olympics Trans Tasman Tournament finished on Saturday night with rapturous applause from everyone participating. The Closing Ceremony, held in Hutt Indoor Sports Centre, marked the end to an action-packed, fun-filled three days.

Athletes from around New Zealand and Australia shone both on the basketball court and on the football field over the competition. From the sidelines, they were both exhilarating and exhausting to watch!

The Otago football team won the inaugural Trans Tasman Tournament Football Trophy and the Queensland basketball team won the inaugural Datacom Trans Tasman Tournament Basketball Trophy. Both awards recognise exemplary commitment to sport and ‘fair play’, athleticism, behaviour (both on and off the court and field), sportsmanship, and uniform-wear.

For Otago, the award capped off a fantastic Tournament in which it won the Division One competition. The region has a budding football programme and to date has held few competitions, so the award and win was a boon for the team and the Otago region.

On Queensland’s part, the team showed wonderful camaraderie on and off the court. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience as the team members were given a standing ovation when receiving their award. Like their Canterbury counterparts, the Queensland athletes had been hit hard by natural disasters earlier in the year, with floods disrupting their daily lives, and training.

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the 2011 Trans Tasman Tournament and made it such a success.

Results from each event can be downloaded below:

Events Manager

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Trans Tasman Tournament results

Football

Basketball

For more information about the 2011 Trans-Tasman Tournament, please contact: