EVENTS AND SPORTS

Local:

Special Olympics is a voluntary community based organisation offering year round sports training and competition in over 40 towns and cities around New Zealand. Training is organised weekly for 44-46 weeks every year by volunteer committees for adults. Training and compeitition for school-aged athletes is organised by Special Olympics, with the help of partner organisations.

Training Offered in each Region and by each Committee - 2008
(Click on the tab of your region to see sports in your area)

National:

Special Olympics New Zealands' National Summer and Winter Games are held every four years and bring together teams representing local committees and schools.

• The next National Winter Games will be in Central Otago 2011.
• The next National Summer Games will be the Manawatu region in Dec 2009.

National Calendar of Events & Regional Meetings- 2008 (updated every Wednesday)

International:

Special Olympics World Games are the flagship event of Special Olympics worldwide. World Summer and Winter Games are held every four years.

• The next World Summer Games are being held 2011 in Athens, Greece.
• The next World Winter Games are being held 2-13 February 2009 in Boise, Idaho, USA.
• Info about the previous World Summer Games in Shanghai can be found here.

Sports Rules:

Across all levels of competition Special Olympics provides Sports Rules that are standardised to ensure ALL athletes of ALL abilities have the opportunities to participate and the adjudication process is fair and equitable..

Special Olympics sports competitions are intended to operate in accordance with rules established by the International Federations (“IF’s”) and National Governing Bodies (“NGB's”) of each sport.

The Sports Rules are intended to modify, where necessary, IF and NGB rules. In cases where IF or NGB rules are in conflict with the Sports Rules, the Sports Rules shall apply.

These rules are reviewed annually and Special Olympics coaches volunteers, and staff are encouraged to suggest any rule changes they feel are appropriate

Recommendations that are made by Special Olympic Athletes, experienced coaches, family members and volunteers play an integral part in the review process and do bring about change or clarification.

The timeline for New Proposed Rules Changes must be in to SOI no later than 15th April 2008 as per the Proposed Rule Change Timeline

Anyone who wishes to see changes to any Special Olympics rules this is the once in year chance to do so!

If you have any sports rule/s you would like changed complete the appropriate Proposed Rule Change Form and return it to Mike Ryan by1st April 2008 . Proposed change forms will be collated and SO New Zealand will then forward them onto Special Olympics Inc.

The formal process that the proposals need to go through and any suggestions made are considered across the globe by lots of various parties at different levels of the organization before a final decision is made.

For further information you are encouraged to contact the National Director of Sport and Coaching for SONZ, Mike Ryan (miker@specialolympics.org.nz)

Latest changes to SO Sports Rules

You can view a summary of changes for the Winter Rules, Summer Rules as well as for Article 1 by clicking on the appropriate link below.

Should you require any further information regarding the above or anything to do with the latest rules please do not hesitate to contact the National Director of Sport and Coaching for SONZ, Mike Ryan (miker@specialolympics.org.nz).

Guidelines and Principles of SO Sports Rules

Article 1 – Guidelines and Principles of Special Olympics Sports Rules provides the General Rules that apply to sports training and competitions and guidelines to help implement some of the general principles.

Sports Offered in NZ

For information on the sports rules used at Special Olympics events please select one of the links below (Summer or Winter). This will direct you to the Special Olympics Inc web sites’ Sports rules pages.

New Zealand offers a selection of the sports that are listed on these pages, EXCEPT for Indoor Bowls as this is a locally recognised program..

Please check with your local club or Special Olympics New Zealand for further clarification

Sports commonly offered by clubs in New Zealand are:

Summer:- Bowling/Tenpin, Athletics, Aquatics/Swimming, Basketball, Football/Soccer, Indoor Bowls , Bocce, Golf, Equestrian, Table Tennis, Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Cycling

Winter:- Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating

For a more detailed list of sports offered by each club please refer to the Training Offered section above.

Please note the Board of SONZ are presently establishing a policy which will establish the framework for sports SONZ will support from 2008 onwards.

This is seen as a very necessary step enabling SONZ to use the resources available for the greatest benefit for our Athletes.

Sports will be reviewed every 4 years in keeping with SOI Rules.

Summer sports rules

Winter sports rules

Swimming Rules (FINA website)