FEATURE

Paralympics New Zealand 'goes gold' to mark '1 Year To Go' until Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

By Paralympics New Zealand

This morning, 365 school children and over 80 offices and schools will help Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) ‘go gold’ to celebrate exactly ‘1 Year To Go’ until the start of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
 
PNZ will use the milestone to launch the Spirit of Gold® Initiative. This is a new long-term campaign to increase awareness and raise funds to support the Para-Athletes currently on the Road to Rio 2016 and secondly, to invest in the development of Para-Sport across New Zealand. A series of events will be rolled out nationally in coming months to enable the community to get closer to Para-Sport, but in the meantime, PNZ is very hopeful that kiwis will “dig deep” and donate now at paralympics.org.nz.
 
Selwyn Maister (Chairman, PNZ) said, “New Zealand Para-Sport has seen staggering success and growth since the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. Back then, we were tenth in the world per capita for medals won. By London 2012, thanks to the support of High Performance Sport New Zealand and PNZ members and partners, our Para-Athletes developed so fast that PNZ was ranked number one in the world per capita for medals won. We now look with excitement towards Rio 2016, targeting 18 medals, including 12 gold. The costs involved to attend the Games are huge, covering everything from uniforms to travel to hotels. As a charity, we rely on grants, donations, community fundraisers and support from business to deliver our programmes. We are hoping that the community will consider donating online now to help our kiwi Para-Athletes achieve their dreams in Rio next year.”
 
To launch the Spirit of Gold® Initiative, 365 disabled and able-bodied children from Sommerville Special School and Murrays Bay School, have been invited to spend the morning at the AUT Millennium in Auckland, home to New Zealand’s National Training Centre for Para-Swimming. The children, dressed in home-made gold supporters’ costumes and carrying signs in support of their favourite Para-Athletes, will help mark the moment by taking part in a photoshoot with Rio 2016 gold medal hopefuls, including Sophie Pascoe, Mary Fisher, Michael Johnson, Emma Foy and Laura Thompson. Minister of ACC & Youth, the Hon Nikki Kaye, will also take part with other key dignitaries.
 
Hon Nikki Kaye (ACC & Youth Minister) said, “It’s fantastic that these young people will get a chance to see their Paralympic heroes today, and see that sport can be a part of everyone’s life. Today I’ve welcomed the Major Partnership that ACC has formed with Paralympics New Zealand, which is all about supporting our Paralympians and inspiring injured New Zealanders to include sport as part of their rehabilitation. Sport can give us so much. It gives us goals to chase and the satisfaction that comes through achieving them. The Paralympics are going from strength to strength and showing us what’s possible when we focus on what can be done, not what can’t be done.”
 
This photo shoot will be followed by a Para-Swimming display, to be presented by Sanford, PNZ’s newest Major Partner. Volker Kuntzsch, CEO of Sanford, and Selwyn Maister, Chairman of PNZ, signed this new agreement just this morning, officially kicking-off the ‘1 Year To Go’ celebrations.
 
Volker Kuntzsch (CEO, Sanford) said, “We are so pleased to be here and a part of this wonderful celebration. Sanford is a company that is very passionate about developing people and so the support that Paralympics New Zealand gives to help Para-Athletes be the best they can be is very inspiring. We are very much looking forward to supporting the team on its way through Rio 2016 and beyond.”
 
The children will then move on to a PNZ “Para-Fun” Day activity. This mix of demonstrations, games, quizzes and information sessions will be led by the Para-Athletes to help teach the children involved about disability and Para-Sport. At the same time, over 80 other offices and schools will take part in a nationwide mufti day, wearing gold or yellow to work or school and giving a gold coin donation to support team on the Road to Rio 2016. Many of PNZ’s partners, including ACC, Sport New Zealand and legal firm Simpson Grierson, will illustrate their support by taking part. Everyone involved is encouraged to post photos on social media, with the best being re-displayed on the new PNZ website and social hub. PNZ collectors are also “rattling tins” at Britomart and the Ferry Terminal in Auckland.
 
Mary Fisher (London 2012 Paralympian and World Champion) said, “Today is an exciting landmark for all Paralympians as we continue on our Road to Rio 2016 and it’s so cool that kids dressed up in gold today to celebrate with us. I am really looking forward to the next 12 months and preparing to be the best that I can be.” She continues as she describes her maiden Paralympic experience in which she won four medals, “To be the best in the world on that day in London and to be able to share it with so many people was a decade-long dream realised. My aims in Rio 2016 are to race to the very best of my ability, motivate New Zealanders to stick with their passion and hopefully win some more gold to bring home to New Zealand!”
 
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place from the 7 - 18 September 2016. The world’s largest multi-sport event for disabled athletes, over 4,350 athletes from 178 countries are expected to compete in 22 sports, with 526 medal events taking place.
 
To get involved or to find out more information about PNZ, please visit Support Us (http://www.paralympics.org.nz/Support-Us).