Children participate on the first meeting of the Special
Olympics Central Lakes club, at Remarkables Primary School.
Photo by Naeem Alvi.
The Special Olympics Central Lakes Club got off to a
grand start at Remarkables Primary School on Wednesday.
The club's volunteer coach is Wakatipu High School sports
co-ordinator Edwin John.
Special Olympics co-ordinator Liz Christopher said the club
was "delighted" to have Edwin involved.
"He's just been wonderful with making the group come to life.
He is like a magnet for the children," she said.
Special Olympics New Zealand organises year-round, nationwide
programmes of sports training and competition for more than
5000 athletes with intellectual disabilities, from the age of
5, supported by 2500 coaches and volunteers.
"It's just wonderful to see everyone smiling and getting
involved," Mrs Christopher said.
According to figures from the Queenstown Disabilities
Resource Centre, 18.1% of the Wakatipu population lives with
some kind of mental, physical or general health impairment.
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