Thousands of Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families and fans are preparing for this year’s National Summer Games.

Heading back to Christchurch for the first time in 20 years, the National Summer Games is the pinnacle event every four years for athletes with an intellectual disability in New Zealand, and the largest inclusive sports event in the country with more than 1400 athletes, their coaches and support crew.

“We are thrilled to bring the National Summer Games to Christchurch. This event will be an inspiring celebration of athletic achievement, courage and community where athletes of all abilities will have the opportunity to showcase their talents,” Special Olympics New Zealand chief executive Fran Scholey said.

“It’s a huge event, not just for Christchurch, but for the whole country when these extraordinary athletes all with intellectual disabilities come together to compete, have fun and show Aotearoa what inclusion and joy is all about.”

Games Ambassadors Scott Barrett and Jason Gunn thank athletes after a friendly football match at Ngā Puna Wai to mark one year until the start of the National Summer Games.

To mark the one-year countdown, hundreds of local athletes and their supporters gathered at Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub for a Unified Football Have-A-Go-Day, to provide a taste of the inclusion and energy that will be on show throughout Christchurch in December.

Ngā Puna Wai will host multiple competitions this year and is one of the eight venues that will host athletes competing in 11 sports.

That will include the brand-new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, which will host the swimming and basketball competitions.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said it would be great to see events such as this returning to Christchurch.

“We can’t wait to show off our wonderful city and our world-class sports facilities to the athletes and fans from all over New Zealand.

“This will be the first major sports event across multiple venues to be held in Christchurch for over a decade. We can’t wait to experience the excitement these games will bring to Christchurch.”

Games ambassadors and athletes celebrate one year until the start of the National Summer Games.

Scholey said Special Olympics New Zealand was keen to come back to Christchurch after the challenging decade of recovery and thanked the Christchurch City Council and all the local sports clubs for their support.

“The last time the National Summer Games were in Christchurch was in 2005, so it has been a long time, especially considering Special Olympics Canterbury is the largest of our 42 clubs,” says Scholey, who adds the National Summer Games is not only about the athletes and their support crews.

“The National Summer Games is truly a special event in many different ways, so we want to encourage the people of Christchurch to get involved, as a spectator or as a volunteer.”

The One Year To Go event was also used to introduce All Blacks captain Scott Barrett as one of the ambassadors for the National Summer Games.

Scott’s sister, Zara, has long been competing at the Special Olympics, so the proud Crusaders forward jumped at the chance to support the event in his home town.

Games ambassadors Scott Barrett and Jason Gunn line up in a wall with Special Olympics athletes during a friendly football match at Ngā Puna Wai last month.

“I can’t wait for the National Summer Games to come to Christchurch and see all these amazing athletes in action. And I want to encourage the people of Canterbury to come and join the party as a supporter or as a volunteer,” said Barrett.

Scholey explained the National Summer Games was one of the most complex sporting events to deliver and would require over 600 volunteers to support athletes in their competitions, accommodation, transport, nutritional needs, and the Healthy Athletes Programme.

“As part of National Summer Games, we provide a comprehensive health programme for every athlete which is a huge logistical operation and relies on the support of many qualified volunteers,” said Scholey.

“Like our athletes, our volunteers will have a hugely rewarding, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and in some cases life-changing experience working with our athletes and enjoying the joy that Special Olympics brings to our athletes and everyone involved with them.”

She said she was already looking forward to the disco after the closing ceremony that for many athletes was the highlight of the National Summer Games.

“Sadly, due to Covid risks, we had to cancel the disco at our last national games in Hamilton in 2021, so our athletes are keen to make up for lost time. It will be the biggest party Christchurch will see all year.”

Anyone interested in having an unforgettable experience as a volunteer at the National Summer Games, please register on https://www.nsg2025.co.nz/volunteer/