Click photo to enlarge
Matt Aitken.
North Otago schoolgirl Brittney McKenzie will have her
first taste of national sport when she competes in the Special
Olympics New Zealand Summer Games in Palmerston North this
week.
McKenzie (16), a pupil at Waitaki Girls High School, will be
competing in four swimming events.
"I am excited about it," McKenzie said at a Mayoral reception
for Special Olympians in Dunedin last week.
She was part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
McKenzie does not have any apprehension about competing
against the best Special Olympic swimmers in the country.
She is confident with her ability and intends to go out hard
to test herself against the other swimmers.
McKenzie is one of 10 members of the North Otago team
competing in Palmerston North.
Swimming is her specialty and she will contest the 50m
breaststroke (qualifying time 1min 10.58sec), 50m backstroke
(57.02sec), 100m freestyle (1min 25.17sec) and the 4 x 25m
relay.
The best competitor from Dunedin is Matt Aitken who will
contest the 400m, 800m and shot put in athletics.
Aitken (17), a pupil at Otago Boys High School, demonstrated
his skills by winning five medals - three gold, silver and
bronze - in AWD events at the New Zealand secondary schools
championships in Hamilton last year.
The Special Olympics Summer Games will give Aitken an
indication of his form before he attempts to dominate his
events again at the New Zealand secondary schools
championships in Timaru next week.
The oldest member of the Central Otago team is Susan Beale
(54).
She will compete in bocce doubles and team competitions.
Sixty-seven athletes from the Otago province will be
competing in Palmerston North.
Overall, there are 1000 athletes competing and they will be
supported by 500 coaches and team managers and 500
volunteers.
There will be 10 sports at the Summer Games: aquatics,
athletics, basketball, bocce, tenpin bowling, equestrian,
soccer, golf, indoor bowls and powerlifting.
Special Olympics was established in New Zealand in 1983 and
there are now 5000 Special Olympic athletes training.
They are supported by 2500 volunteer coaches and supporters.
More than 3.1 million athletes of all ages are involved in
Special Olympics sports training and competition in more than
170 countries.
The organisation offers year-round training and competition
in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports.
The magic of the Kennedy name has helped the Special Olympics
movement become a significant force in international sport
over the last 41 years.
It was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister
of President John F.
Kennedy, to provide athletes with intellectual disabilities
the opportunity to participate in sports.
The first Special Olympics Summer Games was held in 1968.
They are now held every four years and the 13th event will be
held in 2011.
Special Olympics Summer Games
Venue: Palmerston North.
When: December 2-5.
Competitors: 1000.
From Otago: 67.
Sports: 10 (aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce,
tenpin bowling, equestrian, soccer, golf, indoor bowls,
powerlifting).
Volunteers: 500 coaches and team managers and 500
extra helpers.
Next venue: Dunedin in 2013.
