Two off to Special Olympics Worlds

Special Olympics Tauranga athletes Justene Noyer (front), and Neil Oliphant leave for Los Angeles on Thursday. Photo / Andrew Warner

The trip of a lifetime awaits two Special Olympics Tauranga athletes.

Justene Noyer (athletics) and Neil Oliphant (tenpin bowling) are among 46 athletes who will represent New Zealand at the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015 to be held in Los Angeles from July 25 to August 2.

LA 2015 has attracted 7000 athletes from 170 countries competing in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, golf, power lifting, and tenpin bowling.

Justene and Neil qualified after performing well at the Special Olympics New Zealand National Games in 2013. This is their first selection for New Zealand and for Justene it is also her first time overseas.

"I am trying to keep myself calm so I don't get too hyperactive. It has been my dream for about 23 years to get to the world games," Justene said.

"It will be quite interesting to meet people from all over the world."

Justene will compete in the 100m, shot put and relay events. She has been training four days a week to get ready.

Neil has been tenpin bowling for many years and is in good form ahead of Thursday's flight to Los Angeles.

He says his excitement level is "10 out of 10" ahead of the trip.

"It is a good chance to meet a whole lot of people. I will just do my best. I got gold medals at the nationals so hope I go well."

A trip to Disneyland is high on the agenda for both Justene and Neil, with the rollercoaster Neil's number one target.

Chairperson Special Olympics Tauranga, Louella Axon, says it is great to have two athletes going to this year's world games as they did in Athens in 2011.

New Zealand team's head of delegation, Max Brooking, says each athlete has been working hard to put in a top performance in Los Angeles.

"Our training goal has always been to get all of the athletes prepared to a point that they can achieve a personal best performance at the Games," Brooking said.

"With the support of our excellent coaches and management our athletes have been very dedicated to their training and are looking forward to competing on the international stage. I'm sure they will all return with renewed confidence and new goals for the future."