WELLINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The 39-strong New Zealand Special Olympics squad headed to Berlin, Germany on Wednesday, with senior officials wishing them the best of luck.
The New Zealand athletes will begin competing next week across nine different sports.
"The athletes heading to the Special Olympics embody what inclusive sport is and the importance of participation," said Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson.
It is a chance to get behind the athletes and support them as they compete alongside 6,900 athletes from around 170 countries and regions and show what they can achieve through their hard work and dedication, Robertson said.
The government's Disability Inclusion Fund aims to improve the range and quality of physical activity on offer for disabled young people and make the sports sector more inclusive, he said.
The Special Olympics is the world's largest inclusive sporting event, said Disability Issues Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan.
The New Zealand athletes competing in the Special Olympics 2023 will inspire a future generation of disabled athletes, she said. ■