Christchurch Mayor to farewell Deaflympians

From: Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - Dec 13, 2004

Press Release: Christchurch City Council

Christchurch Mayor to farewell Deaflympians on 16 December

Canterbury members of the Deaflympics Summer Games team will leave for Melbourne over the next few weeks and Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore is hosting an official farewell on Thursday (16 December) to wish the athletes and officials good luck in their endeavours.

Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend the event, from 3pm-4pm in the Mayors Lounge on the first floor of the Councils Civic Offices (163-173 Tuam Street) on Thursday. A light afternoon tea will be provided and an interpreter will be there if needed to help with interviews.

Deaf sportspeople have been holding an international tournament since 1924. Christchurch hosted the games in 1989. Then called the World Deaf Games, it was the first time the games had been held in the southern hemisphere and the last time New Zealand fielded a sizable team.

This summers games in Melbourne are expected to attract more than 3500 athletes and officials.

Attending from this part of New Zealand are: Womens basketball; Claudia Arjun, Andie Vowles, Paula Haworth, Bonnie Buzzard (Chch), Conna Mitchell (Gore), Nirvana Harkin (Dunedin), Phil Burns (coach) and Gillian McFarlane (assistant coach). Mens basketball; Craig Haworth and Paul Buzzard (assistant coach) Womens ten-pin bowling; Lillian Henwood, Sue Penman (Chch) and Joan Davidsen (Nelson). Mens ten-pin bowling; Tom Still and Pao Paul. Badminton; Gillian Ramsey (Timaru). Officials: Janet Stokes (DSFNZ secretary and congress representative), Evelyn Pateman (NZSL interpreter) and Tamara Singer (physiotherapist)

The Deaf Sports Federation of New Zealand was set up in 1963 to bring deaf people together through sports. The federation is sending a team of 60 participants and officials to the January 5-16 Summer Games in Melbourne. The New Zealand Deaflympic Teams sponsors are the Lion Foundation, Eureka Trust, NZ Community Trust and the New Zealand Government. Deaf Sports Federation of New Zealand thanks the executive board of DSFNZ and the wider community for their support and generosity in helping deaf New Zealanders get to the Melbourne games.

ENDS

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