Healthy Athletes Programme
The Healthy Athletes Programme for the 2025 National Summer Games will be hosted at Parakiore and offer over 1000 Special Olympics Athletes the opportunity to be screened by health professionals in a fun and friendly environment.
If you are a trained clinician and would like to be a part of the Healthy Athletes Programme, please contact HAPs Manager Stephen Berryman via haps@specialolympics.org.nz
The Healthy Athletes Programme consists of the following five stations.
Fit Feet
Fit Feet offers podiatric screenings to evaluate ankles, feet, lower extremity bio-mechanics, and proper shoe and sock gear to participating athletes. Many athletes suffer from foot and ankle pain, or deformities that impair their performance.
Lions Club International
Opening Eyes
The Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes programme is changing lives in communities across the globe, providing free eye assessments, prescription eyewear, sunglasses and sports goggles to people with intellectual disabilities.
Healthy Hearing
Healthy Hearing is changing lives in communities by providing free hearing screenings and other medical services. The amount of ear problems and hearing loss among Special Olympics athletes is greater than that found in the general population with up to 40% experiencing hearing difficulties.
Special Smiles
Special Smiles provides comprehensive oral health care information, offers free dental screenings and instructions on correct brushing and flossing techniques to Special Olympics athletes.
Health Promotion
Health Promotion focuses on healthy living, healthy lifestyle choices, and health-specific issues. In addition to health education activities, Health Promotion offers screenings for bone density, blood pressure, and body mass index. Its goals include encouraging and enhancing healthy behaviours and improving self-efficacy and self-advocacy.
