Three Tauranga Special Olympians are the faces of their club’s new fundraising campaign to get 73 athletes and 20 volunteer coaches to New Zealand’s 2025 National Summer Games in December.

Tauranga’s ten-pin bowler Len Just, athlete Hayley Little and Katikati powerlifter Caroline Tangitau – who won medals or achieved personal bests at 2023’s World Summer Games in Berlin – are now signwritten on a Tauranga Special Olympics Club van.

Jo and Mike Hawthorne from Hosh Creative have sponsored the artwork on the van, which aims to promote awareness of Special Olympics in Tauranga.

The 73 Tauranga athletes will compete in sport from indoor bowls, swimming, powerlifting, athletics, ten-pin bowling, golf to basketball at the National Summer Games from December 10-14.

Massive

Tauranga Special Olympics Club chairperson Keryn Darroch said the National Summer Games – coming sooner than the usual four-year wait due to Covid – is a massive deal for the athletes, who put in a lot of work to attend.

“[To get selected] there’s a qualifying period – they need to attend weekly trainings, they have to attend a Tier 1 a one-day competition, and a Tier 2, which is generally an overnight stay competition.

“So there’s a big build-up for them and already they’re getting pretty excited about it.”

The qualification deadline is June 30, and Darroch said the bulk of the 73-strong team have achieved Tier 1 and are working towards Tier 2.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes is a massive undertaking to support them – physically, emotionally and financially – to get there.

Darroch said the games are quite an experience for athletes, to smash their goals and make memories.

“For some athletes, going away – out of their usual surroundings and daily schedule – is a big thing. Being away from home tests them as an individual, as it can be very unsettling for anyone and for someone with an intellectual disability it can be worse.”

Big undertaking

Darroch said athletes arrive in Christchurch the morning the games start – December 10 – and the closing ceremony is December 14, with a dinner and disco.

“The athletes are asked to contribute a certain amount towards the cost of the trip. This year the club is covering – due to the games being in Christchurch – flights and associated transport costs for the athletes and registration costs and travel expenses for attending club volunteers.

“I haven’t got any confirmed costings on that yet – but it won’t be cheap taking that many people. It will be in the tens of thousands I imagine. We’re waiting to hear back from Air NZ via Special Olympics NZ head office to see how they can help, but it will be a big financial undertaking for the club.”

Darroch wants the community to know that the coaches, team supporters and helpers are all volunteers.

“They have to take annual leave from their own paid jobs to attend the games – not only that but it’s a lot of work in terms of extra preparation. That’s why the club pays for their travel, accommodation and registration costs."

Focus on abilities

“The majority of our coaches, team supporters and helpers are fulltime working people who give up their time to be involved. We all do it because we love it and we want to help these guys and get them out in the community and participating in something that not only provides health benefits for all but gives them a lot of enjoyment as well.

“Both coaches and athletes like to focus on their abilities rather than their disabilities.”

As such Darroch welcomes any sponsorship or support from the community to support the club getting to the games.

“Absolutely – if someone has got something they’d like to contribute to what we’re doing, that would be awesome!”

To help out, email: tauranga@specialolympics.org.nz.

The club thanks Mike and Jo Hawthorne from Hosh Creative for their van sign-wrap sponsorship. “The athletes were in awe of the spread of photos.”