Special Olympics NZ World Winter Games Austria 2017 - Rebecca Heath

The world’s largest sports and humanitarian event in 2017 will be the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Graz and Schladming, Austria. Austria will welcome almost 3,000 Special Olympics athletes from 110 nations to compete in nine Olympic-type winter sports. The Special Olympics World Winter Games returns to Austria, the location of the fifth Special Olympics World Winter Games in 1993 in Salzburg and Schladming. It will be held from 14-25 March 2017. For further information, please go to www.austria2017.org

New Zealand will be represented by 13 athletes who will compete across two disciplines: Alpine skiing and snowboarding. This is New Zealand's largest delegation to attend a World Winter Games, they will be supported by seven volunteer officials.

Rebecca has been involved with Special Olympics for twelve years - as well as snow sports, she participates in aquatics, and in 2010 she graduated from the inaugural Global Messenger programme, and has worked hard to raise the profile of Special Olympics in the media both nationally and regionally.

Rebecca has been working hard on her fitness, with cardio and weights in the gym in addition to her regular swim training. She will be taking part in training camps at Mt Ruapehu this winter.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Rebecca's cause. Your donation, no matter what amount, will help Rebecca achieve her ambition to ski in Austria.