Putting in the hard yards for the Special Olympics

Christchurch Special Olympics athletes have been training hard for this week's New Zealand games, which start in Palmerston North on Wednesday night.

Track and field team members were on New Brighton beach yesterday morning getting in last-minute training before heading north.

Special Olympics New Zealand regional sports co-ordinator Graeme Bain said the 120-strong Christchurch team would be taking part in athletics, indoor bowls, basketball, 10-pin bowling, equestrian sports, golf and swimming.

The youngest team member was 13 and the oldest in his 60s.

"The Special Olympics is all about participation. We're an organisation that organises sport for people with intellectual disabilities rather than physical disabilities.

"These guys can really go. We have to look at their times and abilities. We split them by gender and times, so, using the 100 metres as an example, they submit their most recent times, and on the day if they run 15 per cent faster they are disqualified. That stops you putting in a time that is too slow and then you clean up with a gold medal.

"A gold medal in division six is worth as much as in division one," Bain said.

Wednesday night's opening ceremony would be followed by three days of competition and a closing event on Saturday night.

"That's a long time for these guys away from their comfort zone – medication, caregivers etc. It is a big ask for them."

They would be accompanied by 37 coaches, also acting as carers.