FEATURE

PNZ will 'go gold' to mark '1 Year To Go to Rio 2016' milestone on Monday 7 September

By Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ)

In four days time, 365 school children and over 80 offices and schools will ‘go gold’ to help Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) celebrate exactly ‘1 year to go’ to the start of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
 
On Monday 7 September 2015, more than 170 countries will begin the countdown to the world’s largest multi-sport event for disabled athletes. PNZ will mark this date by launching its new awareness and fundraising initiative, Spirit of Gold®, in a public event at the AUT Millennium. 365 children in home-made gold supporters’ costumes will take part in a photoshoot with New Zealand’s best Paralympians, including Sophie Pascoe, Mary Fisher, Michael Johnson, Emma Foy and Laura Thompson. This will be followed by a Para-Fun Day to teach the children about Para-Sport and disability.
 
At the same time, over 80 offices and schools all around New Zealand have already signed up to ‘go gold’ in support, taking part in PNZ’s Spirit of Gold® Mufti Day by wearing gold or yellow to work or school and giving a gold coin donation. Many of PNZ’s partners, including major partner ACC, Sport New Zealand and legal firm Simpson Grierson, are jumping on board to take part. Everyone involved is being encouraged to post photos of their costumes on social media, with the best images being pulled through for display on the new PNZ #spiritofgold Social Hub. PNZ is still taking registrations for this Mufti Day if you would like to take part either on the day or sometime after, more information can be found in this link (http://www.paralympics.org.nz/Support-Us/Spirit-of-Gold-Mufti-Day). PNZ collectors will also be “rattling tins” down at Britomart and Ferry Terminal in Auckland.
 
The Spirit of Gold® Initiative is a long-term campaign designed to increase awareness and raise funds to support Para-Sport in the community and in the short term, fund those Para-Athletes on the Road to Rio 2016. To get involved or to find out more information about PNZ, please visit Support Us (http://www.paralympics.org.nz/Support-Us).
 
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (http://www.paralympics.org.nz/Competitions/2016-Summer-Paralympics/Get-To-Rio-2016) will take place from the 7 - 18 September 2016. A total of 4,350 athletes from 178 countries will compete in 22 sports with 526 medal events. New Zealand was the most successful country in the world per capita at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, winning 17 medals (including six gold). PNZ is targeting 18 medals including 12 gold medals next year, which would make it our most successful Games ever!