Latest news with #HealthyAthletesProgramme
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Special Olympics Marks 200 Day Countdown To National Summer Games
Press Release – Special Olympics NZ Special Olympics Chief Executive Fran Scholey says that Christchurch is working hard to prepare the facilities and her team are ramping up their recruitment drive for the 700 volunteers required to enable the athletes to compete. Special Olympics New Zealand tomorrow, May 24, will mark the 200-day-to-go milestone counting down to the National Summer Games in Christchurch. The National Summer Games, on December 10-14, are the four-yearly pinnacle event for athletes with an intellectual disability with over 1300 athletes and thousands of support crew and family expected to flood the city's new sports facilities. Special Olympics Chief Executive Fran Scholey says that the city is working hard to prepare the facilities and her team are ramping up their recruitment drive for the 700 volunteers required to enable the athletes to compete. 'This is the largest inclusive event in the country and can only happen with the support of our wonderful volunteers,' says Scholey, who adds that the event will need volunteers to look after a variety of roles from transport, accommodation, competition, media and the Healthy Athletes Programme. Scholey is grateful Freemasons New Zealand have again come on board as the Premier Partner for the event and many of its members will again step up in volunteering roles. 'Freemasons New Zealand and the Freemasons Charity are proud to be premier sponsor of the Special Olympics NZ 2025 National Summer Games and Volunteer Programme — a celebration of inclusion, dedication, and community spirit. Our shared values make this partnership truly 'special',' says Chris Thorndcroft – District Grand Master for the Canterbury District. Scholey is heartened by the fact that many corporate businesses are encouraging their staff to use their corporate volunteering days to support the National Summer Games, with Westpac New Zealand one of the first to put their hands up to support the event. Westpac Canterbury Regional Board Chair Leah McIvor says the National Summer Games are a brilliant event and the team is thrilled to help it come to life. 'At Westpac, all staff get two Volunteer Days each year so we thought the Special Olympics would be a great way to use them as a team. It's a great way to support the community, support the athletes, and a great bonding experience for all of us. We can't wait,' says McIvor. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger is super excited to be welcoming the National Summer Games to his city and the fact that Special Olympics athletes will be enjoying some of the new sports facilities that were built after the 2011 earthquakes. 'I can't wait to get along to some of the events and to show what an amazing host city we are. It's been 20 years since we last hosted this event and I'm sure everyone involved will do a wonderful job,' the Mayor says. Fiona Sawers is the Volunteer Manager for Special Olympics New Zealand, responsible for recruiting, training and overseeing the 700-plus volunteers before and during the event, and says the National Summer Games is an incredibly special event to be a part of. 'Volunteers generously offering their time and energy to help with the running of this event enables our athletes to be supported, so they can feel safe, welcome and able to deliver the best performance of their lives.' Sawers says the athletes have trained very hard for four years for their competition, but coming to an unfamiliar environment can create challenges for the athletes. 'We need local volunteers to help ensure they have a wonderful experience competing, having fun and making new friends.'
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Special Olympics Marks 200 Day Countdown To National Summer Games
Special Olympics New Zealand tomorrow, May 24, will mark the 200-day-to-go milestone counting down to the National Summer Games in Christchurch. The National Summer Games, on December 10-14, are the four-yearly pinnacle event for athletes with an intellectual disability with over 1300 athletes and thousands of support crew and family expected to flood the city's new sports facilities. Special Olympics Chief Executive Fran Scholey says that the city is working hard to prepare the facilities and her team are ramping up their recruitment drive for the 700 volunteers required to enable the athletes to compete. 'This is the largest inclusive event in the country and can only happen with the support of our wonderful volunteers,' says Scholey, who adds that the event will need volunteers to look after a variety of roles from transport, accommodation, competition, media and the Healthy Athletes Programme. Scholey is grateful Freemasons New Zealand have again come on board as the Premier Partner for the event and many of its members will again step up in volunteering roles. 'Freemasons New Zealand and the Freemasons Charity are proud to be premier sponsor of the Special Olympics NZ 2025 National Summer Games and Volunteer Programme — a celebration of inclusion, dedication, and community spirit. Our shared values make this partnership truly 'special',' says Chris Thorndcroft - District Grand Master for the Canterbury District. Scholey is heartened by the fact that many corporate businesses are encouraging their staff to use their corporate volunteering days to support the National Summer Games, with Westpac New Zealand one of the first to put their hands up to support the event. Westpac Canterbury Regional Board Chair Leah McIvor says the National Summer Games are a brilliant event and the team is thrilled to help it come to life. 'At Westpac, all staff get two Volunteer Days each year so we thought the Special Olympics would be a great way to use them as a team. It's a great way to support the community, support the athletes, and a great bonding experience for all of us. We can't wait,' says McIvor. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger is super excited to be welcoming the National Summer Games to his city and the fact that Special Olympics athletes will be enjoying some of the new sports facilities that were built after the 2011 earthquakes. 'I can't wait to get along to some of the events and to show what an amazing host city we are. It's been 20 years since we last hosted this event and I'm sure everyone involved will do a wonderful job,' the Mayor says. Fiona Sawers is the Volunteer Manager for Special Olympics New Zealand, responsible for recruiting, training and overseeing the 700-plus volunteers before and during the event, and says the National Summer Games is an incredibly special event to be a part of. 'Volunteers generously offering their time and energy to help with the running of this event enables our athletes to be supported, so they can feel safe, welcome and able to deliver the best performance of their lives.' Sawers says the athletes have trained very hard for four years for their competition, but coming to an unfamiliar environment can create challenges for the athletes. 'We need local volunteers to help ensure they have a wonderful experience competing, having fun and making new friends.'
Borneo Post
02-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Healthy Athletes Programme bridges healthcare gap for Special Olympics participants in Sarawak
Dr Veronica (centre) witnesses the donation handover from one of the sponsors to Toh (third left). KUCHING (May 2): The Healthy Athletes Programme (HAP), held in conjunction with the Sarawak Special Olympics Games 2025, plays a vital role in narrowing the healthcare gap for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In stating this, Sarawak Health Director Dr Veronica Lugah said the programme is instrumental in addressing the significant challenges that athletes with IDD face in accessing quality healthcare. These challenges, she said, include communication barriers, inadequate training among healthcare providers, dietary restrictions, social stigma, and low health literacy. 'By training the healthcare professionals to conduct specialised health screenings and education, the Healthy Athletes Programme ensures that every athlete receives the attention and care they need,' she said during the launch ceremony at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya here today. Organised under the Special Olympics Sarawak banner, in partnership with the Sarawak Health Department (JKNS), the initiative provides free health screenings and education in a supportive environment for athletes. It is supported by more than 150 volunteers, including health professionals from various facilities under the Ministry of Health (MoH) and JKNS, academic institutions, social organisations, and the private sector. Dr Veronica noted that despite data showing that individuals with IDD face higher rates of preventable health issues, they remain one of the most underserved groups in healthcare. The HAP, she explained, helps close this gap by equipping healthcare providers with empathy, understanding, and skills to deliver inclusive, rights-based care. 'I admire the motivation shown by the volunteers. It is a reflection of empathy for the unique needs of this special group of athletes,' she said. She further noted that the programme aligns with the MoH's commitment to inclusive healthcare through its National Strategic Plan for Non-Communicable Disease (NSP-NCD) 2016–2025 and the Healthcare for Persons with Disabilities Policy. Participants included students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Segi College, Chung Hua Middle School No. 1, Lions Club members, and other volunteers – some of whom travelled from as far as Miri. 'Let us use this opportunity not merely to offer a service, but to drive a transformative shift in our view of health equity and inclusion. 'Together, we must ensure our special athletes are empowered, healthy, and celebrated in every aspect of their lives,' she said. Also present was Special Olympics Sarawak HAP director Dr Toh Teck Hock. Healthy Athletes Programme Kuching Sarawak Special Olympics Games
