Special Olympics - World Summer Games Come To End

2003 Special Olympics - World Summer Games Come To End

The New Zealand team saw the end of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games draw to a highly emotional and spectacular conclusion yesterday in Dublin's Croke Park stadium, Ireland.

The team, proudly wearing their total of sixty medals won during the Games, joined thousands of volunteers, athletes, delegation members and celebrities, to witness the Closing Ceremony which marked the end of their incredible experience.

Chris Hooper, Special Olympics Executive Director and Head of Delegation says the Games were the pinnacle for Special Olympics athletes all around the World and the Closing Ceremony was certainly no anticlimax.

"The Ceremony was incredibly moving and brought together everything that had taken place over the last nine days. As the flag came down and the flame was extinguished it suddenly hit us that everything had come to an end, it was a very emotional moment."

Throughout the Ceremony, the crowds were entertained by a wide variety of Irish and international music acts, with the likes of Blue, Liberty X, and Westlife, amongst others, treating Croke Park to a celebratory party in honour of both the athletes and the volunteers who had given so much of themselves for the Games.

Video clips and interviews reinforced the successes of the athletes over the preceding week, showcasing the skills and courage of athletes.

The Closing Ceremony was a triumphant celebration of the achievements of Special Olympics athletes, focusing on the abilities and prowess they have shown during the Games. It was also an occasion to mark the next exciting journey for the Special Olympic Games which will be hosted by Japan and China.

The New Zealand team has since departed Ireland following the Closing Ceremony and a touching farewell to the people of Naas - the team's Host Town in the lead up to the Games. They will spend a week of celebration, relaxation, and reflexion in England before returning to New Zealand on Monday, the 7th July.

On their return the team will be welcomed home by a fantastic ceremony involving performances by the Sky City Cheerleaders and Star Jam (performers with disabilities) as well as a Haka, speeches, and songs (Ray Woolf and Star Jam performers). The ceremony will be followed by a light breakfast in the Marlborough Room before the team departs for their respective home towns.

All media are invited to attend and there will be many opportunities for getting visual material and interviews. The Welcome Home Ceremony on Monday, 7th July, will begin at 7am in the Arrivals Lounge at Auckland International Airport and will lead into the Lookout Lounge for speeches and songs. Media co-coordinators will be available from 6.30am to assist you. If you can make it please contact Natalie on the phone number below before the event or on the day.

For detailed information on the 2003 Special Olympic World Summer Games you can also visit – http:// http://www.2003specialolympics.com.

Medals Table

Gold 19

Silver 21

Bronze 20

Total 60

Details - Event Athlete(s) - Results - Medal - Region
Ten Pin BowlingTeams Anne Fairhurst, Helen Coring, Lynley North, Mandy Sandbrook 1028 Gold TaranakiAucklandWaikatoManawatu

Ten Pin BowlingTeams Robert McElwee, Steven Roberts, Steven James, Darren Gordon 1706 Gold AucklandAucklandWaikatoAuckland

Ten Pin Mixed Doubles Steven JamesHelen Coring 396365 Gold AucklandWaikato

Bocce Catherine Boyle TBC Gold Wanganui

Bocce Julie Trail TBC Gold Wanganui

Bocce four person team Justin AshtonCatherine BoyleLincoln Coronno George Taylor TBC Gold KapitiWanganuiNorthern -WairoaOtago

Equestrian Lance Dempsey 131.00 Gold Horowhenua

Equestrian Maria Dixon 148.00 Gold Nelson

EquestrianWorking Trail James Farrell 141.00 Gold Hawkes Bay

EquestrianEquitation James Farrell TBC Gold Hawkes Bay

EquestrianDressage James Farrell TBC Gold Hawkes Bay

Swimming(100m Breaststroke) Katrina Hewett 2:23.11 Gold North Otago

Swimming50 Freestyle Andrew Withers 00:50.85 Gold Otago

Swimming 100m Individual Medley Rebecca Everard 2:00.97 Gold North Harbour

Swimming 50m Butterfly Timothy Faith 00:57.96 Gold Horowhenua

Swimming 50m Freestyle Andrew Withers 00:50.85 Gold Otago

Track5000m Gary McMillan 20:22.89 Gold Bay of Plenty

Track 800m walk Kaye McMurray 6:18.77 Gold Canterbury

Powerlifting Brett Sutherland 90 kg Gold Southland

Golf 72 Hole Comp Conrad Ryan 499 Gold Manawatu

Track(400m Walk) William Hussey 02:26.62 Silver Nelson

Track (400 Walk) Murray Johns 02:03.96 Silver Waikato

Track800m run Brendan Telfer 4:07.92 Silver Hutt Valley

Swimming(400m Freestyle) Kent Czepanski 6:23.13 Silver Waikato

Swimming25m Freestyle Sarah Stalker 00:24.93 Silver North Canterbury

Swimming100m Butterfly Rebecca Everard 1:50.42 Silver North Harbour

Swimming200m Freestyle Chris Joseph 3:01.88 Silver Hutt Valley

Bocce Lincoln Corrono TBC Silver Wairoa

BocceDoubles Lincoln CorronoJustin Ashton TBC Silver WairoaKapiti

BocceWomen's Doubles Catherine BoyleJulie Trail TBC Silver
WanganuiWanganui

Ten Pin BowlingMixed Doubles Robert McElweeLynley North 385 354 Silver Auckland Waikato

Ten Pin BowlingWomen's Doubles Helen Coring Anne Fairhurst 386272 Silver AucklandTaranaki

Swimming50m Backstroke Timothy Faith 1.10.85 Silver Horowhenua

EquestrianWorking Trail Nicola Harvey 100.00 Silver Marlborough

EquestrianEnglish Equitation Maria Dixon 148.00 Silver Nelson

EquestrianDressage Lance Dempsey TBC Silver Horowhenua

EquestrianGymkana Pole Bending Lance Dempsey TBC Silver Horowhenua

EquestrianDressage Maria Dixon TBC Silver Nelson

Track Duncan Campbell 12:25.04 Silver Tauranga

PowerliftingSquat Brett Sutherland 120kg Silver Southland

PowerliftingDeadlift Brett Sutherland 162.5 Silver Southland

PowerliftingBench, Deadlift & Squat Brett Sutherland 372.5kg Silver
Southland

Track3000m Duncan Campbell 12:25.04 Bronze Tauranga

Track400m Walk Kaye McMurray 2:54.27 Bronze Canterbury

Track800m Walk William Hussey 05:33.77 Bronze Nelson

Track800m Walk Murray Johns 4:59.25 Bronze Waikato

BocceSingles Justin Ashton TBC Bronze Kapiti

Swimming50 Backstroke Tania Evans 1.02.42 Bronze Southland

Swimming100m Freestyle Chris Joseph 1:20.31 Bronze Wellington

Swimming 100m Backstroke Kent Czepanski 1:47.74 Bronze Waikato

Swimming25m Freestyle Bernadette Coleman 00:31.22 Bronze Nelson

Swimming25m Freestyle Brent Busby 00:28.73 Bronze Kapiti

Swimming200m Freestyle Kent Czepanski 2:52.16 Bronze Waikato

Swimming 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay Tania Evans, Timothy Faith, Andrew Withers, Christie Ryan, TBC Bronze SouthlandHorowhenuaOtagoAuckland

Equestrian English Equitation Nicola Harvey 81 pts Bronze Marlborough

Ten Pin BowlingMixed Doubles Steven RobertsAnne Fairhurst 424277 Bronze Auckland Taranaki

Ten Pin BowlingMen's Doubles Steven JamesRobert McElwee 372 373 Bronze WaikatoAuckland

Ten Pin BowlingWomen's Doubles Mandy SandbrookLynley North 357274 Bronze ManawatuWaikato

Ten Pin Singles Steven Roberts 471 Bronze Manukau

Ten Pin Singles Darren Gordon TBC Bronze Tamaki

Golf 72 Hole Comp Michael Conder 433 Bronze Tauranga

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