10 Nov 2022

NZ Sporting History: The Special Olympics

From Afternoons, 2:35 pm on 10 November 2022

The Special Olympics National Summer Games are going to be held in Hamilton next month, hosting more than 12-hundred athletes.

The Global movement was first founded in the 1960s

However, the special Olympics movement didn't take place here until the early 1980s- spearheaded by Lower Hutt based, Grant Quinn and a team of four competitive swimmers.

Grant talks to Jesse about bringing the games to Aotearoa and what it means for the athletes taking part.

Colin Bailey, Brent Busby, Peter Spijkerman and Gordon Llewellyn with Rod Dixon at the 1983 Summer Special Olympics in America.

Photo: Special Olympics New Zealand