Special Olympics Waikato hosted a two-day regional football tournament at Sherwin Park in Te Awamutu this month.
Aston Villa take on Chelsea in the unified games on Saturday. Photo: Leeann Johnson
Parents, volunteers and 42 players attended from places across the Central North Island, including Auckland, Cambridge, Hamilton, Ngāruawāhia, Rotorua, Te Awamutu and Waitakere.
Tournament director and Special Olympics Waikato football team manager Tina van Dyk said the weekend was a success.
The Rapid Relief team provided free burgers for everyone upon arrival, while Te Awamutu AFC junior football games wrapped up.
“It was a great way for our teams to arrive and mingle over a burger before we played our seven-a-side tournament,” van Dyk said.
Waikato Red player Finn McNally prepares to pass to teammate Jayden van Dyk against Waikato Black players Leon Smith, Richard Ward and goalie Aaron Douglas. Photo: Lauren Bovaird
The first day fostered a fun, unified and inclusive approach.
Athletes from four Special Olympics teams, two from Waikato, one from Rotorua United, and a combined Auckland/Waitakere team, joined together for friendly matches.
The Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade and police joined forces to create their own team, arriving with a fire engine and police car.
This made them very popular.
Teams were named after English Premier League football clubs to bring a lighter, less competitive mood to the day.
The day brought everyone together, not just as competitors, but as teammates and friends.
“The athletes showed great adaptability and an amazing skillset to play together and compete as mixed teams,” van Dyk said.
“This format is being encouraged more by Special Olympics New Zealand, and while it’s already being used in basketball, this was a trial for football. It worked incredibly well.”
Most of the attendees stayed the night at Epworth Retreat and Recreation Centre, south of Cambridge on the banks of the Waikato River.
They were entertained by a disco, hosted by the band Robert Mullen Junior and Friends which included some athletes themselves.
After a well-deserved rest, teams met back at Sherwin Park on Sunday to get competitive.
The four regional teams competed in a traditional round-robin tournament for the Caroll Memorial Trophy.
The Auckland/Waitakere combined team took home first place, Waikato red finished second, Rotorua claimed third and Waikato black placed fourth.
The regional tournament served as a qualifying event for the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Christchurch in December.
The Special Olympics Waikato and Te Awamutu teams will compete there.
Te Awamutu fire and police combined team members playing under the Liverpool colours take on a player from Rotorua in Arsenal’s green bib during the unified fun games. Photo: Leeann Johnson
The Waikato team aims to raise the $50,000 needed to get its athletes to the nationals.
They hope to have a team of 60 athletes competing across seven sports including football, athletics, basketball, weightlifting, swimming, ten pin bowling and equestrian.
“Every Special Olympic athlete’s goal is to get to the national games. Every four years they hold the national summer games,” van Dyk said.
“Last time it was held in Hamilton, this time it’s in Christchurch, adding a lot more cost to the event for our athletes.”
Van Dyk said the highlight of the qualifying tournament wasn’t necessary the football, but the sportsmanship shown.
“It was nice to see the sportsmanship. When people got knocked down, others instantly stopped and helped them up and made sure they were okay. Apologies were everywhere,” van Dyk said.
“Two of the Waitakere players even joined Waikato teams to even out the teams’ numbers and helped ensure everyone got good game time.
“The parents also jumped in and helped out everywhere. They made roast dinners and did score keeping and time keeping. It was wonderful.
“Our athlete oath, ‘let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt’, really summed up the spirit of the event.”
Special Olympics Waikato athletes Thomas Cannon (from left), Ryan Risi, Michael Dodds and Jeremy Piercy during the football tournament. Thomas and Michael live in Cambridge, while Ryan lives in Karāpiro. Photo: Leeann Johnson
