Swimmers from Mid Canterbury’s Special Olympian contingent got to experience the official swim venue for next month’s national summer games in Christchurch.
Trevor Nish, Dominica Cotter, Megan Isherwood, Ella Gardner, Fergus Wilson and Cody Robin were given access to the pool on Wednesday, in the yet to be officially opened Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.
Team manager and assistant swim coach Ann-Marie Wilson said all Special Olympian swimmers got to experience the pool where the games’ swimming competitions would take place.
Parakiore has a 10-lane 50m Olympic-size competition pool with seating for 1000 aquatic spectators.‘‘It’s pretty cool,’’ Wilson said, of the opportunity.
The test swim, adjusted to 25m for the games’ athletes, was run like a swim meet.
Everyone was set to swim their event against other people, she said.
At the games, 10 athletes will represent Mid Canterbury; the swimmers, as well as Peter Thomson, Joanne Inwood, Stu Chesmar and Peter Judge who will play bocce.
Wilson said the Mid Canterbury contingent, which trained on Monday or Tuesday nights, was split with herself and coach Colleen Lindsay supporting the swimmers, while Colleen Inwood and Ann Craig supported those playing bocce.
Rather than stay in Christchurch, Wilson said the Mid Canterbury contingent would travel to the city each day for the December 10 to 14 event.
‘‘The first day is Wednesday the 10th, and that will be the opening ceremony at Wolfbrook Arena, and the final day is the closing ceremony.’’
A $760 cost for each athlete to attend had reduced to $200, thanks to community support, Wilson said.
She said the team had received a $6000 funding boost, which included $2000 from Braided Rivers Community Trust Ashburton, $2000 from IHC New Zealand and more than $2000 from a movie night and raffle fundraiser.
The remainder was raised by athletes and other valued supporters.
Calder Stewart who also gave each athlete their own initialled backpack, she said.
Wilson said with the countdown on, the team was ‘‘getting excited’’.
There were plans for a pot luck supporters’ dinner and the creation of a Mid Canterbury banner to carry into the games.
The opening ceremony would include two Mid Canterbury representatives, yet to be announced, who will get to carry the Flame of Hope within the arena, Wilson said. Flag bearers will also be on the stage during the ceremony.
The Flame of Hope has been traversing the country in collaboration with police during the traditional Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) to get local communities excited about the games.
