It is the 45th New Zealand club to organise year-round programmes of sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities.
Queenstown Lakes athletes will take on bowling, aquatics and snow sports, and have flagged an interest in equestrian opportunities and football.
Club members will take on the challenge of competing against fellow clubs, including Central Otago and Dunedin, and in regional, national and international events.
Organisers hope local athletes will compete in the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games, in Dunedin, in 2013.
Five members from the Central Otago Club, who competed in the 2009 National Summer Games, in Palmerston North, showed their support.
Athlete Paul Hunter, of Alexandra, told the audience that participating in the Special Olympics was "fun; you meet new people, enjoy the sport you love and travel".
Lower South Island regional sports co-ordinator Jan Aitken, of Dunedin, encouraged volunteers to help the new club and introduced Queenstown Lakes club executive committee members, including co-ordinator Lizzie Christopher, secretary Caroline Hutchison, treasurer Jo Wright, plus coaches Edwin John, Sian Waite, Robert Whale and Juanita Fowler.
Community network manager Mike Freeman, of Wellington, said Special Olympics New Zealand offered 14 adapted sports to encourage their psychological and physical wellbeing and their sense of community.
