Sports
For any sports queries please contact Mitchell Rhodes - Partnership and Sport Manager
Email:
sport@specialolympics.org.nz
Phone: (+64) 21 767 309
Athletics
Athletics covers a wide range of track and field events with the NSG Athletics competition hosted at Christchurch’s premier outdoor sports facility
Ngā Puna Wai. NSG Athletics athletes and teams will enjoy state of the art on ground and spectator stadium facilities over the four days of competition.
Please note the 2022 athletics rules feature a number of rule changes/additions for NSG2025 that you need to be aware of – listed here.
These rules override the 2022 Sports Rules posted on the SONZ website – please take the time to read the changes.
Basketball
Hosted at the brand new
Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre - the largest aquatic and indoor recreation and leisure venue of its kind in New Zealand, accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
The 2025 National Summer Games will offer two formats in Basketball:
Special Olympics Traditional 5 x 5 Basketball
Special Olympics Unified 3 x 3 Basketball
Coaches/mentors can play in the 3 x 3 format, but must adhere to basketball coaching rules during play outlined in SONZ Basketball 2022 Rules
Clubs can register an athlete in both sports ie an athlete who is competing in 5 x 5 Basketball can also compete in the Unified 3 x 3 Basketball team
As Unified 3 x 3 Basketball is early in its development stages across New Zealand – we will allow a 3 x 3 team to compete without any Unified Players in the team ie a 3 x 3 Unified Team could compete against a 3 x 3 team with SO athletes only
Please note the 2022 Basketball rules feature a number of rule changes/additions for NSG2025 that you need to be aware of – listed here.
Bocce
Hosted at the Cowles Stadium a purpose-built indoor stadium, the 2025 National Summer Games will see athletes compete in both traditional Bocce and Unified Bocce at a National Games for the first time. Divisioning for both formats will be undertaken on Thursday 11 December which will also include an opportunity for athletes and teams to trial the bowling surface.
Equestrian
The Christchurch Riding for the Disabled Equestrian Arena will be the home for our competitors for the NSG 2025 – an expansive arena with plenty of room for all the competition elements.
The key rule change for NSG 2025 relates to rider helmets - All rider helmets must be tagged or taggable before competition. This is in line with Equestrian NZ rules.
Football
Football at the 2025 National Summer Games will once again be a 7-a-side format.
Also being hosted at Christchurch’s premier outdoor sports facility Ngā Puna Wai, the squads competing at the games will enjoy state of the art on ground and spectator stadium facilities.
Golf
Harewood Golf Club will host our NSG Golfers - conveniently located just minutes from Christchurch's city centre our Golf athletes and teams will feel they are in the heart of the competition.
Competition levels 1 – 5 will be offered to suit the range of players and abilities we have in attendance at the Games.
A unified player can be a coach/mentor and must meet the unified standard for eligibility. Both the athlete and Unified partner are to have completed an Individual Skills Competition with a total score of at least 60 points.
If an athlete competes in Unified golf, they will not be able to enter standard stroke play due to timetabling.
Indoor Bowls
Indoor Bowls will be hosted at the
Canterbury Indoor Bowls association's dedicated facility in Wainoni with athletes competing in pairs and fours events. Three grades of competition will be on offer to allow for Indoor Bowlers of all abilities to compete at NSG 2025.
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is another sport being hosted at
Ngā Puna Wai, where all athletes and supporters will enjoy state of the art gym and spectator facilities.
For the 2025 National Summer Games there will be Two-Lift Combination, Three-Lift Combination and Bench only disciplines available to compete in.
Swimming
Swimming will also be hosted at the brand new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre - the largest aquatic and indoor recreation and leisure venue of its kind in New Zealand, accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
With five fundamental events and over 30 core events on offer there will be plenty of action across the four days of competition in the pool at
Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.
For the 2025 games there have been some changes to the rules regarding the composition of relay teams as well as the implementation of an exception code list.
Tenpin Bowling
Hosted at Zone Bowling in Waltham, Tenpin Bowling once again promises to be one of the most popular sports at the National Summer Games with athletes competing in both doubles and team events.