‘Feels pretty good’: Special Olympics athletes eager to show their skills

With a wide grin as he lifts a shiny number one balloon, Matthew Smith is a budding athlete bursting with pride.

The 28-year-old is one of 18 club members from the local team, Special Olympics Te Awamutu, who are gearing up to compete on the national podium.

Smith started swimming seriously in 2010 and hasn’t looked back since.

He trains up to four times a week for the Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics National Summer Games coming to Hamilton in a month.

“I just love working out… it feels pretty good when I’m in the water,” Smith says.

“My favorite stroke is backstroke … we trained for about an hour three times a week, but now it’s been four times because of national championships.”

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A crowd of thousands is expected to fill the city of Hamilton on December 8, made up of athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters from the local community.

The four-yearly competition aims to promote the talent of people with intellectual disabilities.

Smith was diagnosed with a genetic growth disorder called Russell-Silver syndrome. However, this did not stop him, but instead fueled his interest in learning to swim.

In his navy blue uniform among his friends, he prepared for the rounds ahead.

“When I’m swimming I’m just focused. I could probably do 12 laps of backstroke,” he said.

“It feels pretty good to be part of a team because I have friends to hang out with.”

The more than 600 volunteers needed to bring the event to a successful conclusion were the heart and soul of its success.

It had been postponed in 2021 due to concerns over Covid-19, but organizers expected a big comeback at the welcoming ceremony.

10 different sports are played in eight locations across the city, hosting the 1,400 participants and coaches.

Described as a “serial volunteer” by his colleagues, Waikato man Richard van Dijk was part of the group of volunteers who lent a hand to run the event.

“I’m addicted now,” says Van Dijk.

“It’s the positive environment, people come in who want to spend their time and get paid nothing for it.”

His volunteer role also included being one of the on-site employees at lodging locations in the city.

School inns and college halls had been arranged well in advance to cover the accommodation needed to house the 38 other club teams arriving in December.

“You meet people from all walks of life… volunteering is all about your willingness to want to do it and just help.”

Special Olympics Volunteer Manager Kieran Booth, who had the arduous task of coordinating the rosters for all 600 volunteers, says it took an army of support to bring all the components together.

It was intended to be another high-level sporting event that would hit the Waikato region and the city of Hamilton, along with the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup in 2023.

Booth says Hamilton was really ready to host such an inspiring event as the Special Olympics and get the public involved in the action.

“It’s absolutely fantastic that we can finally host the 2021 games here, it’s really the pinnacle for athletes across the country,” Booth said.

“I think a lot of people may not have heard of the Special Olympics and what it’s all about, but it’s a year-round organization where these athletes can do local events, but they get the chance every four years.” to participate.

The athletes and volunteers were optimistic and excited about the coming month and the opportunity for people with disabilities to make their sporting dreams come true.

“Go learn to swim if you want,” Smith said.

“It’s about having fun.”

The Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics Summer National Games will be held in Hamilton from December 8-12.