Hosts for Special Olympic Games

A few short weeks after one historic New Zealand - Australia sporting showdown, athletes from both nations are making their way to Wellington to take part in another great trans-Tasman challenge.

More than 200 athletes with intellectual disabilities will take part in a series of basketball and football matches in Wellington as part of the Special Olympics New Zealand Trans Tasman Tournament. The new ASB Sports Centre in Kilbirnie will host basketball events, while football games will be held at Hutt Park in Seaview.

Special Olympics New Zealand, and its trans-Tasman counterpart Special Olympics Australia, offers year-round sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities in the community and at secondary school.

More than 6,000 New Zealand athletes train with Special Olympics New Zealand in 14 Olympic-style sports and compete locally, nationally and internationally.

"While a number of our basketball players have competed overseas at the World Summer Games and Oceania events, for most of our football athletes, this tournament will be the first time they have had the opportunity to compete against other international players," says Kathy Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics New Zealand.

Information about the tournament, which runs from Wednesday 2 - Saturday 5 November, is available online at:

Special Olympics NZ website