Special Olympics New Zealand Theme Song an iTunes hit
Nationwide sporting organisation Special Olympics New Zealand has launched its exclusive National Summer Games 2013
Theme Song on iTunes and several other international music sites.
“Soaring High”, written by Twizel-based singer-songwriter Sarah Conlan, was selected from dozens of entries from around
New Zealand in Special Olympics New Zealand’s National Summer Games 2013 Theme Song Competition.
Held every four years, the Games will take place in Dunedin between 26 November and 1 December 2013. It is the largest
event held in New Zealand for people with intellectual disabilities. The theme for the Games is ‘Soaring to New
Heights’.
Around 1200 athletes from around the country with intellectual disabilities are attending the event, along with 400
coaches and support staff, 70 health clinicians, 20 sports officials, hundreds of family members and friends, and more
than 800 volunteers.
“Sarah Conlan is a talented singer-songwriter. Her song “Soaring High” has encapsulated the audacity that our athletes
show in their sporting achievements, and in life. The song is available to buy online, with all proceeds going to
Special Olympics New Zealand to assist us in supporting our athletes’ sporting dreams,” says Kathy Gibson, Chief
Executive Officer of Special Olympics.
Sarah recorded the iTunes version of “Soaring High” at Angels Gate Recording Studio in Christchurch, in front of several
athletes from Special Olympics Canterbury. Kevin Allison, who has worked with Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Wonder and the
Eagles’ Joe Walsh, produced the song.
“Special Olympics New Zealand has always been part of my life as my parents are volunteer coaches. I have been on ski
camps with the teams and sung for the athletes, and have seen first-hand how Special Olympics New Zealand has changed
the lives of many people with intellectual disabilities. I’m delighted that “Soaring High” has been selected as the
National Summer Games 2013 Theme Song, and feel lucky to be able to support the organisation through my field [of
music]. I encourage everyone to jump online and buy the song. You’ll be supporting some very deserving people,” says
Sarah Conlan, who has also been a finalist in the Gold Guitar Awards, MLT Songwriting competition, and Smokefree
Rockquest, and won the 2003 New Zealand South Island Music Awards with an original song.
“Soaring High” is available to buy on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon MP3, MySpace and other international music
sites.
Buy “Soaring High” on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/soaring-high-single/id703186438
About Special Olympics New Zealand
Special Olympics New Zealand is a year-round programme of sports training and competition for children and adults with
intellectual disabilities. More than 6000 athletes throughout the country train and compete in 13 different Olympic-type
summer and winter sports.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides athletes continuing opportunities to develop
fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other
athletes, their families and the community.
About the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games 2013
The Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games will take place in Dunedin between 26 November and 1 December
2013.
Around 1200 athletes selected from Special Olympics’ 44 Clubs around New Zealand will compete in 10 Olympic-style sports
including aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, football, golf, indoor bowls, powerlifting, and tenpin
bowling during the National Summer Games.
The Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games 2013 will be based at a number of Dunedin’s sports venues: The
Edgar Centre, Moana Pool, Logan Park, Caledonian Ground, Chisholm Park, Bowl Line Tenpin Bowling, and Telford,
Balclutha. The athletes will stay at the University of Otago’s Residential Colleges during the competition.
Special Olympics New Zealand will also run a Healthy Athletes Programme during the Games, with athletes offered the
opportunity to take part in screenings focused on hearing, eye sight, dental care, and podiatry. Around 70 voluntary
clinicians will be on deck to undertake these free health screenings. The data gathered will be used to provide valuable
evidence-based research which will be shared with key influencers at government level and in the wider disability
sector.
ENDS