The New Zealand Special Olympics are set to start in Wellington on Sunday.
Held every four years, the Games are New Zealand's largest event for people with intellectual disabilities and have athletes of all ages competing in swimming, athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, football, golf, indoor bowls, powerlifting and tenpin bowling.
``We have no quotas for this event in any of our 11 sports, so this means that any athlete that has qualified and wishes to take part in this event can do so, irrespective of their ability level. We are not about elite sport but you can be sure that every competing athlete will be doing their utmost to achieve a personal best.''
As well as the more than 1200 athletes, an army of coaches, management and volunteers are also gearing up for the Games. More than 500 coaches and management staff are attending to support their athletes, and about 600 local volunteers have been recruited, she said.
``All up, around 3000 people will be involved in the event, cheered on by many more family, friends and supporters - it's a real community event.''
From Otago a team of 59 athletes is heading to the Games, with a total of 72 in the team from the South. Athletes had to qualify in regional competitions.
The football team is made up of eight members of the Mount Cargill Trust residential support service and a few other athletes.
The footballers have been training hard all year and are ready for the tournament. The football is played in six-a-side games on half a football field.
Coach Matt Woodason said the players had been training hard all year and were looking forward to taking on seven other teams.
It was costing $70,000 to get the Otago team to Wellington and house them there, and a lot of fundraising had taken place throughout this year.