KiwiSport sponsor new sport to Auckland schools programme

Special Olympics NZ will now be offering the sport of Bocce to their existing schools programme thanks to KiwiSport funding obtained through Auckland Sport & Recreation (AKTIVE).

"To be eligible for the funding you have to run a project that is new.  So we had to look at introducing a new sport to our existing schools programme," said Trudi Bridges, Regional Team Leader, Special Olympics. "Bocce has been on the radar for a while as it offers a sport for the lower ability, higher needs students in the school learning support settings. Anyone can play Bocce, it's a fully inclusive sport."

"Each Special Olympics, Regional Sports Coordinator in Auckland will be approaching schools in their region. These will be either Special Schools or schools that have a learning support unit within them. The intention is to deliver Bocce within their own school surroundings with a view to then host a 'ribbon day event' for them to compete inter-school. We're also hoping to establish a Special Olympic club link with a few of our Auckland clubs which will hopefully result in starting a training group for Bocce outside of school hours," said Bridges. 

"Bocce is a fully accessible outside sport that requires a lot of team work, it is new to schools and it is something that offers a sporting pathway through to our Special Olympic programme. We found the biggest barrier to the growth of bocce and the uptake by our clubs is the equipment.  So the prospect of portable, inflatable courts that can be set up relatively quickly anywhere there is flat grass, taken down and stored is what makes Packabocce courts so appealing," said Mike Ryan, Manager of Sports Operations, Special Olympics.