The Special Olympics National Summer Games in Christchurch, held in December 2025, brought together more than 1,200 athletes from across Aotearoa to celebrate inclusion, community and sporting excellence. Behind the scenes, Datacom was proud to play a part – providing volunteers and support to help make this incredible event possible.
A group of 20 Datacom volunteers were among more than 650 people supporting the event – welcoming athletes to Christchurch, assisting arrival teams, helping deliver the opening and closing ceremonies and supporting sporting events to ensure competitions ran smoothly.
Datacom volunteer Jane Beale supported athletes competing in bocce, an Italian lawn bowls game similar to pétanque. New to the sport when she signed up, Beale quickly became acquainted, helping set up courts and referee matches. She says a highlight of volunteering was the competitors’ positivity, “they kept smiling to the very end, even after a long day."
While Datacom volunteers worked behind the scenes, they were also cheering on athletes like Jared Lutu, a club leader from Māngere, Tamaki Makaurau, who has been involved with Special Olympics for more than a decade. First joining as a teenager, he now plays a key leadership role within his local club, supporting 13 fellow athletes.
Special Olympics is a global sports organisation that provides training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Lutu, who is autistic, was among athletes from 42 clubs competing across 10 sports in Christchurch.
Lutu was introduced to Special Olympics by his coach while at high school. “My teacher (and now coach), Maria Lee, asked if I was interested in joining the Special Olympics Club and I was keen to meet new friends and try new sports,” he says.
“I like all sports, but I must admit I’m most passionate about athletics. I enjoy long jump, shot put and relays,” Lutu adds. “It keeps me fit and helps with my confidence.”
For the 26-year-old, Special Olympics has provided far more than just sporting opportunities.
“Special Olympics promotes my love of sport, from training to competing at a national level,” he says. “This organisation makes me feel like I belong. I enjoy being part of the Special Olympics family.”
The Māngere team returned home with an impressive medal haul, with 13 athletes winning a combined total of 16 gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals. Lutu dominated the first division, capturing three gold medals in the relay, long jump and shot put.
Looking ahead, Lutu hopes to one day represent New Zealand on the world stage, with the next Special Olympics World Games set to take place in Santiago, Chile, in 2027.
Another Datacom volunteer helping ensure the Games ran smoothly was Stedtson Janse van Rensburg, who supported the Healthy Athletes programme – an initiative providing free health screenings to athletes ahead of competition.
The programme offers opt-in checks across areas including eyesight, hearing, dental health and footcare, helping ensure athletes are fit and equipped to compete.
Rensburg describes the experience as “life changing.” “We screened athletes across areas from eyesight and hearing to dental health and footwear fit, making sure athletes were wearing the right shoes,” he says, noting that for some athletes, it may be the first time in years they’ve received this kind of care.
“Speaking with organisers, medical experts, coaches, athletes and seeing the impact of that work firsthand, was incredibly rewarding,” he adds. “Walking through the event and chatting with athletes excited to compete was infectious. I left energised, grateful and happy to be there helping – I would absolutely volunteer again.”
Programmes like these not only help athletes perform at their best during the Games but also support their health and wellbeing for years to come. For some, that journey spans decades. At 64 years old, Colin Bailey competed in his final National Summer Games after more than 40 years with Special Olympics New Zealand.
One of the organisation’s earliest Kiwi athletes, Bailey was part of the original four-person athletics and swimming team that helped establish Special Olympics in New Zealand in the early 1980s. He went on to compete internationally in 1983 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Over four decades, Bailey competed across multiple sports before focusing on tenpin bowling, the sport he continues to play today.
Bailey’s coach, Shani Kowalczyk, says Bailey’s impact extends far beyond competition.
“He’s just the cheekiest person. He’s hilarious to have around – rigorous is the word I’d use for him,” she says.
While Bailey will continue to bowl socially and at local tournaments, this year marked his final appearance at a National Games level.
Special Olympics New Zealand CEO Fran Scholey acknowledged the significance of his contribution.
“Colin has shown us what true courage and commitment looks like, both on and off the field,” she says. “Colin’s retirement marks the end of an extraordinary era of National Games attendance, but his impact will continue to inspire athletes, volunteers and supporters for generations.”
Scholey also reflected on the role of Datacom in making the event possible.
“The support of Datacom is invaluable. Their expertise, commitment and collaboration play a vital role in bringing the National Summer Games to life and creating meaningful experience for everyone involved,” she says.
“We thank all the Datacom volunteers from the National Summer Games for giving their time and talent. The smiles on our athletes' faces were evident and so we thank you for your part in that.”
