Special Olympics New Zealand

What Special Olympics New Zealand does

Special Olympics New Zealand (SONZ) is a charitable trust registered in New Zealand and affiliated with Special Olympics International, delivering year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization operates 44 grassroots clubs across the country staffed by more than 1,500 volunteers and Regional Sports Coordinators, serving over 5,000 athletes in 13 Olympic-type summer and winter sports and hosting more than 200 events annually. Its core product portfolio includes the main sports programme, the Young Athletes Programme (ages 2–10), the Athlete Leadership Programme, the Healthy Athletes Programme, Special Olympics Unified Sports®, and a School Programme that extends inclusive sport into mainstream education. Major flagship events include the quadrennial National Summer Games (most recently hosted in Ōtautahi Christchurch in December 2025) and National Winter Games, with international pathways extending to the Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games.

The organization's underlying technology stack is modest and operational rather than proprietary, comprising Rosterfy for volunteer management at major events and a Games Management System (GMS) for training resources and athlete tracking; no AI or machine learning capabilities are evidenced. Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit model combining individual donations, corporate sponsorship (e.g., NOVUS glass, Go Media in-kind), government grants from Sport New Zealand, event registration donations (Polar Plunge at $25/person), and branded merchandise sales, with the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge serving as the flagship annual fundraising event in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch. SONZ is led by CEO Fran Scholey and governed by a Board of Trustees that includes an elected Athlete Representative, with athlete voice further embedded through an Athlete Input Council and Regional Athlete Leadership Councils.

Name

Special Olympics New Zealand

Legal name

Special Olympics New Zealand

Website

https://specialolympics.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Olympics New Zealand is a charitable trust that delivers year-round sports training and competition across 13 Olympic-type sports for 5,000+ athletes with intellectual disabilities through 44 grassroots clubs, supported by 1,500+ volunteers, government grants, donations, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM), Olympic & Multi-Sport Movement Organizations (NOCs, Olympic Committees) (MPAKACAI), Winter Sports Teams/Clubs (Ski, Snowboard, Bobsleigh, etc.) (MPAKABAI), Winter Sports & Snow Training Schools (Ski, Snowboard, Ice Sports) (MPAKAJAI)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Intellectual disability athletics
• Inclusive youth sports
• Special olympics training
• Community sports clubs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lower Hutt

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, Polar Plunge fundraising events, and community fundraising initiatives. Major fundraiser is the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge with $50,000 annual goals.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partnerships and sponsorships from companies like NOVUS glass and others. Includes in-kind support from partners such as Go Media (billboard advertising).
3. Government Grants: Funding from government bodies including Sport New Zealand. Affected by Class 4 funding cuts during COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including 'I'm Part of Something Special' t-shirts in Men's, Women's and Youth sizes.
5. Event Revenue: Revenue from event participation including entry donations for Polar Plunge events ($25 per person, $10 per athlete).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Special Olympics New Zealand delivers year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across 44 grassroots clubs throughout New Zealand. The offering spans 13 Olympic-type summer and winter sports, supplemented by the Young Athletes Programme (ages 2-10), Athlete Leadership Programme, Healthy Athletes Programme, Special Olympics Unified Sports®, School Programme, and flagship National Summer and Winter Games, plus the Polar Plunge community fundraising initiative.

Product overview

Special Olympics New Zealand is a charitable organization offering a unified portfolio of sports programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. The core offering consists of year-round sports training and competition across 13 Olympic-type summer and winter sports, delivered through 44 grassroots clubs supporting over 5,000 athletes. Key programmes include the Young Athletes Programme (ages 2-10), the Athlete Leadership Programme, the Healthy Athletes Programme, Special Olympics Unified Sports®, and Special Olympics Unified Schools. The organization also runs major events including the National Summer Games, National Winter Games, and the Polar Plunge fundraising initiative. The School Programme extends inclusive sports into educational settings. Together, these offerings provide sporting opportunities, leadership development, health education, and community inclusion for athletes throughout New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Special Olympics New Zealand Sports Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Athletes show improvements in physical competence, social acceptance, and general self-worth (research-backed)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of CanterburycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2024Memorandum of understanding signed for the University to host the Olympic Village when the 2025 National Summer Games take place in Ōtautahi Christchurch, accommodating over 1,300 athletes and hundreds of support staff.
• RosterfycoreTechnology or Integration · 10 December 2020Rosterfy was selected as the volunteer management solution for The Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games 2021, providing platform for volunteer coordination and management.
• New Zealand Powerlifting FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2020MOU signed for running high quality powerlifting sports programmes, providing athlete development pathway in this sport.
• School Sport CanterburyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership creating opportunities together through school sport programmes and inclusive sporting events.
• New Zealand Police / Law Enforcement Torch RuncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw Enforcement Torch Run partnership for Polar Plunge events in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, combining fundraising with police community engagement.
• New Zealand FootballcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership supporting Genuine Cup football team participation and general football programme development.
• NOVUS glassminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner logo visible on website as part of partner acknowledgement.
• Go MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated free billboard space across the country for campaign to increase visibility and reach people with intellectual disabilities in isolation.
• Christchurch City CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter of Sport Canterbury Sport and Recreation Awards and supporter of 2025 National Summer Games.
• New Zealand CricketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability Workshop Panel collaboration to upskill NZC and regional organisations on inclusion of disabled people in mainstream sport.
• Outward BoundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorizons adapted course providing adventure experience with additional rest breaks and support for Special Olympics athletes.
• Christchurch City Council / Hōhepa CanterburyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering 'Have a Go' sport sessions for adults with intellectual disabilities at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Special Olympics International: Global governing body of the Special Olympics movement and SONZ's parent affiliate. Operates the same intellectual-disability sport model worldwide, including the World Summer and Winter Games in which SONZ athletes compete.
• Special Olympics Australia: Sister Special Olympics national programme in Australia, operating an identical model (clubs, athletes with ID, Unified Sports, National/World Games participation) across a similar regulatory and funding environment.
• Halberg Foundation: NZ charity focused on physical disability inclusion through sport, including adapted sport programmes and the Halberg Games. Competes with SONZ for disabled-athlete families, volunteers, and corporate sponsorship in NZ.
• Paralympics New Zealand: NZ's national body for Paralympic sport (physical disabilities) and the closest direct peer to SONZ. Operates a similar grassroots-to-elite pipeline, sends athletes to international Games, and competes for the same NZ disability sport funding and sponsorship pool.

Broad incumbents

• Sport New Zealand: NZ government funding body that funds SONZ and operates the Sport NZ Disability Plan. Acts as both a key partner (financial backer) and a broader incumbent shaping inclusive sport policy and funding across NZ.

Emerging players

• New Zealand Cricket - Inclusion arm: SONZ has an active partnership with NZ Cricket to upskill on disability inclusion in mainstream sport. NZ Cricket's growing inclusive offerings make it both partner and partial competitor for disabled athletes in NZ.
• New Zealand Football - Genuine Cup: Partner of SONZ for the Genuine Cup programme, while also developing its own inclusive football offerings. Represents the mainstream federations increasingly building adjacent disability sport programmes.

Others

• Disabled Persons Assembly New Zealand: National cross-disability advocacy organization in NZ. Not a sport provider but shapes disability policy, advocacy, and rights frameworks that influence SONZ's operating environment and funding access.
• Inclusion New Zealand: NZ umbrella body for intellectual disability service providers. Adjacent ecosystem participant that influences family referral pathways and policy advocacy affecting SONZ's target population.

Regional players

• Variety - the Children's Charity (NZ): NZ children's charity funding disability inclusion and youth programmes. Competes for the same corporate donor and grant funding pool in NZ, though focused on children with disabilities more broadly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SpecOlympicsNZ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialOlympicsNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-olympics-new-zealand
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialolympicsnz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Special Olympics New Zealand