Olympics action a-plenty

With balls flying and 60 athletes out on court having a blast, the Special Olympics Whangarei Basketball Ribbon Day at Kensington Stadium was the action-packed place to be on the weekend.
Teams from Whangarei, Auckland, Counties, Howick-Pakuranga and Waitakere travelled north to contest the ribbon day, with aims of qualifying for the regional games in June.
Special Olympics chairman Andrew Langford said: "To qualify for the regional games, athletes have to compete at a ribbon day - and to compete at the four-yearly national games this year athletes have to compete at the regional games."
With the national games at Palmerston North on during December this year, there was added incentive behind the athletes' performances.
The day was divided into two sections - part one was the basketball skills assessment test, in which Auckland claimed top points, followed by Counties and then Howick-Pakuranga.
Whangarei finished fourth in this division.
Games followed, with each team playing twice, and once again Auckland came up trumps, taking out the first division.
Whangarei put in a big effort to end up in second place, ahead of Manukau.
In the second division, Howick-Pakuranga was first with Waitakere and Counties in tow.
The day was a great success, the enjoyment on the kids' faces saying it all.
Langford said he hoped to take about 35 athletes from various sports including basketball, swimming, track and field athletes, 10-pin bowls and indoor bowls away for the regional and national games this year.
Special Olympics Whangarei will stage their next ribbon day, a 10-pin bowling tournament at Whangarei Bowling Centre, on May 30.