Sporting Events
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Members going for gold
While New Zealand was cheering on our athletes at the Commonwealth Games, blind and vision-impaired athletes were preparing for Games of another sort - the Southern Cross Games and the Eve Rimmer Games.
"Involvement in sports competitively or for recreation is extremely important and is closely linked to confidence and self-esteem," says Glynis Smith, Southern Cross Games organiser and Foundation Recreation Advisor. "It's not all about the winning - doing your best and giving it a go is equally important. It's about having a positive attitude to life."
"Sporting events help members establish support networks while building the confidence to go on and tackle other challenges."
In April, 145 blind and vision-impaired students from New Zealand, Australia and Samoa descended on Auckland for the 2006 Southern Cross Games.
The seven teams from New Zealand (Auckland, Eastern Districts, Northland, South Island, Waikato / Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Western Districts) won 235 medals, out of 573 medals awarded.
The Eve Rimmer Games held every two years in Whakatane, give New Zealanders of all ages and disabilities a chance to compete and participate in sports.
The Hamilton Eve Rimmer Games team brought home 17 medals between them!