Parafed Gisborne Tairāwhiti team ‘attitude’ recognised

Team spirit: Physically disabled and vision-impaired young athletes from the Gisborne Tairāwhiti team cheer during the 2023 Halberg Games at King’s College, Auckland, this month. Gisborne Tairāwhiti won the team spirit award. Picture by Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

HALBERG GAMES

Parafed Gisborne Tairāwhiti won the Team Spirit of the Games Award at the Halberg Games in Auckland this month.

The award acknowledged the team’s positivity, encouragement, motivation, resilience and winning attitude throughout the weekend,

A record 224 young athletes with physical disabilities descended on King’s College for the 2023 Halberg Games — a three-day national sports festival for young New Zealanders with physical disabilities in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

Hosted by the Halberg Foundation, the Halberg Games was back to the full national event, having been taken to the regions last year due to Covid.

With over 20 sports to choose from, the Games gave participants the opportunity to represent their region for three days of sporting competition, team camaraderie and fun. Supported by their local Parafeds and disability sport organisations, athletes represented Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wellington, Tasman, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

New Zealand sporting heroes Eric Murray, Eliza McCartney and Ajaz Patel joined in the fun of the weekend.

Thirteen awards were presented to athletes and supporters for their efforts across the weekend.