December 10, 2025 • 22 mins
On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for 10th December 2025, the Special Olympics Summer Games officially gets underway tonight with the Opening Ceremony at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch. Fran Scholey is the CEO of the event and she joined D'Arcy to discuss.
D'Arcy shares his thoughts on Donald Trump receiving the first FIFA peace prize
And D'Arcy and NZ Herald sports journalist Ben Francis discuss the World Darts Championship starting on Friday morning and Luke Metcalf and Mitch Barnett's timelines before returning to action for the Warriors in 2026.
Get 'Sports Fix' every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
D be welcome on into the Sports Fix podcast. Good
day to you.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
My name is Darcy Walter Gave.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
It's Wednesday, the tenth of December twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Lined up for you in this edition, Curtis.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Of the Fine Folk as DJ Gardner Holmes, new Zealand's
most trusted home builder, will be joined in the podcast
by the chief executive of a special Olympics Summer Games,
and name is fran Scully, and we'll be talking about
what it is, when.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
It is and why it is.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I've got some opinion around FIFA and Trump, what a
train wreck that is, and joining us in the chamber
to talk about rugby league. I know that it's very strange.
Is Ben Francis, sports fighter from New Zealand Herald. Will
also touch on the upcoming World Dark Championships. Yeah, it
(01:11):
gets underway in a couple of days time. That's our
master plan. So I suppose we just hit go in
other news time out to hook into some short sports shots.
If it's turn twister for you. AKFC coper Steve Corca
since has been need maybe a bit more time from
the spot in training. Sure they won last week, but
(01:33):
they missed two penalties not acceptable really at this level.
June had one for thirty seven games and we missed
both of.
Speaker 6 (01:41):
Them, so all a confidence thing.
Speaker 7 (01:43):
I think penalty kicking the right spot. Unfortunately Sam miss
is one, but that happens sometimes you don't like to
happen to us.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
There will be four wild cards in the upcoming ASB Classic.
Sloan Stevens is one of them, also Venus Williams Katie
Bulter out of Britain and he yet to be named
key we Tournament director Nicholas Lamberen is hopeful for the
Classic will give a springboard effect to stevens career reboot.
Speaker 8 (02:12):
Insteadly, she couldn't compete most of twenty twenty five due
to injuries, but now she's feet again and she's ready
to play, so I think it was our duty to
help her come.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Back to the top five performers are sport in z
is welcoming more athletes or the prospect of them turning
up to a pay christ judge because there's a new
base down there park has opened up. The sports complex
has composition for HPS in z training hub there in
that half a billion dollar facility regional amountainer Andy Alis
(02:45):
says that I'm pause for athletes to turn up, but hey,
if you want to come on down.
Speaker 8 (02:50):
We aren't in competition with regions and other facilities.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
What this is isn't that an addition.
Speaker 8 (02:56):
Of the offering across our facility network for high performance
sport museum and so athletes now have a wonderful.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Choice and there are your suite but short sports swipes.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
You're welcome use an opinion.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
It's SPORTSFX with Darcy Valdegreve.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
We'll join our the podcast by fran Scolly.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Fran is the chief executive officer of the Special Olympics.
The Summit Games happening in Autuntahi, christ Church. You joined
just now, Hi, Fran, how are you sorta Darcy?
Speaker 6 (03:26):
I'm good, thank you? How are you going?
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Good?
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Great to have you on.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
So I suppose first up, tell us exactly what this
celebration of sport is all about.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Because she's rather large.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
It covers a lot of places all over Aututahi christ Church.
So let's just start from the start. What exactly is
the Special Olympics National Summer Games.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
Great question.
Speaker 7 (03:48):
So Special Olympics National Summer Games is for people with
an intellectual impairment to compete in their chosen sport, representing.
Speaker 6 (03:57):
Their region and their club.
Speaker 7 (03:59):
In Autotahi christ Church, we've got ten different sports that
our athletes will be competing in. We've got twelve hundred
and five athletes competing alongside six hundred coaches and cares
that have come down into Autotahi christ Church for the week.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
That's a big number sport wise. How many sports do
they participate in and what kind of spread? What are
we talking about here sport wise? I'm presuming there'll.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Be sports that a lot of people play.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
There may be some slightly tweaked sports as well, because
it is a Special Olympics.
Speaker 7 (04:35):
Yeah, so we actually have ten sports. Our most popular
sport is actually ten pin bowling, followed by swimming, and
then we have basketball. So we've both got individual sports
and we've got team sports.
Speaker 6 (04:48):
All of the sports.
Speaker 7 (04:49):
Are standard in the sense that there are no adaptations,
so our athletes compete to the best of their abilities
and that's how they operate into their different divisions.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Massive sport, big execution For you guys, I've got to
ask who funds this? Where does the money come from
put on an event of such size.
Speaker 7 (05:10):
Yeah, we have amazing partners that support us. We've got
some philanthropic money, we've got some grant funders, and then
we do have our clubs that fundraise as well. So
it is a diverse of revenue streams that allow this
event to take place. And so we're just looking forward
to christ Church seeing it in action.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Across christ Church.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
How many venues are you looking at and for how
long does this event go frame?
Speaker 7 (05:35):
Yeah, So we've got the opening at Wolfbrook Arena tonight
where we know we have over five thousand people that
are going to be coming in. So our teams makeup
seventeen hundred. So we've got the rest that have coming
in as volunteers and local supporters.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
So we can't wait to showcase that.
Speaker 7 (05:52):
The games officially kick off on Thursday and run all
the way through to Sunday. We're operating out a paddaicure day.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
With basketball and swimming.
Speaker 7 (06:01):
We've got equestrian golf that are out.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
At the venues. We've got indoor bowls with bowls Canterbury.
Speaker 7 (06:10):
We've got out and up on a wi We've got
our powerlifters, athletics, we've got our football, and we also
have botchy.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
This is once every four years, is that correct frame?
Is this a regularly occurring event?
Speaker 7 (06:26):
Yeah, it is once every four years, and the reason
why we do that is every other year we were
building up to this. So we have athletes that participate
locally and they build their confidence in order to go
to what we call a T two event. That's a
weekend event, so they're away from home for two days.
So what we're doing with that is ensuring that our
(06:48):
athletes have built the confidence enough to be away from
home and they're rearing to go. And then the next
step with that is obviously the National Summer Games, which
is about four days away from home. And then we
have athletes that wish to participate even further at Well
Games and for those athletes, they're away for about three weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
So that's the target. Idea is these athletes want to
go in a global stage. Is that the bell on
the end all for these athletes?
Speaker 6 (07:14):
No, that's not the bee on end all.
Speaker 7 (07:16):
So we have athletes that just want to participate, that
just want to make friends, that just want to have
an opportunity to give a sport to go. So we've
got our community based participation and then if we've got
athletes that want to go into a more high performance
environment or actually represent at a wider stuck scale, then
they go and participate at that world stage.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Kind of age group to be looking at.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
Here anywhere from eight to like eighty.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
And the fact that's been going everyone.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Yeah, so it's been it goes every four years.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
How long has this been up and running on a
global scale, but more important to here in.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
Yeah, So Special Olympics Movement worldwide was founded in nineteen
sixty eight, and in New Zealand it was founded by
Grant Quinn in nineteen eighty. So he was teaching a
couple of down syndrome swimmers in the Lower Hearts in
Wellington and he came across this American lady that said,
you just have to come over and see the Special
(08:16):
Olympics in action, and that's where it started. They took
four swimmers over. When they came back, Grant decided that
he was going to travel the whole entire New Zealand
and he knocked on the doors of every single mayor
in every single town in the quest for inclusion and
special Olympics, and today we have forty two clubs throughout
(08:36):
the whole entire.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Country dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfax with Darcy Waldergrave.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
From the sublime to the well quite frankly ridiculous. I
used the term over the weekend to describe the FIFA
World Cup drawer as grotesque. I was referencing, of course,
Donald Trump. What on earth he was doing there in
the first place. I don't know. Oh, actually, no, hold on,
I do. Because the president of FIFA, Johnny Infantino, wanted
(09:09):
to cut love to him and give him a wee
bro hug. It was disgusting to watch. As it turns
out what and Fantina was up to when he awarded
Donald to Trump with a FIFA Peace Prize. Where on
earth did that come from? He just wanted to curry
favor with old Donald. It turns out he's a real
(09:30):
mate of Donald Trump, and he's constantly on social media
and everybody else stolen the virtues of Donald Trump and
what he's doing, which to any sane minded person is
plainly insane. But he did it anyway, couldn't stop laughing
at the idiocy on display. I don't believe it had
(09:50):
happened on such a big world stage, it's such an
important event as the draw for the FIFA World Cup grotesque.
But as it turns out, I'm not the only one
who shook my head and put my face in my palms.
Other people have been deeply upset well, specifically Fair Square,
(10:10):
which is a group that seeks to promote greater accountability
across sport. They've basically written a letter of complaint to
FIFA's Ethics Committee saying that what Infantino is up to
was in breach of FIFA rules. The phrase from Fair
Square was the award of a prize of this nature
(10:32):
to a sitting political leader is an end of itself,
a clear breach of FIFA's duty of neutrality. So FIFA
wabble on their merry old way with absolutely no accountability,
not unlike Donald Trump. Let's hope the football is more
(10:53):
satisfying than the baboonery that was on display last weekend
at the FIFA draw.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfex.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
And we welcome now into the Christmas Chamber because it's
that kind of yeah and we're are going to be
talking about something's very Christmas related news journalists. For them,
you said in Herald, mister Ben Francis, get a ben
Merry Christmas over.
Speaker 8 (11:17):
Same to you, Darcy, as I say, it's getting very
close to what I define the start of Christmas. I
know everyone's got their different dates, but for me, we're
so so close. It is nearly there, and I am
super excited.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Okay, so we're going to talk about this because it's
not something we talk about a great deal on air,
but we probably should. I get excited about it as well.
It's Christmas. To me, it's the World Darce Championship. There's
something about the morning, sitting around till midday watching the
guys chuck the arrows.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
It's a huge event. And then it's getting bigger.
Speaker 8 (11:50):
Yeah, that's right, Darcy. So this year one hundred and
twenty eight players expanded field, biggest ever for the World
Darts Champs. But the biggest you know cherry. On top
of everything for the one hundred and twenty eight players,
there is the million pound prize, the biggest it's ever
been last year five hundred thousand, So it's a massive
increase for the winner even if the first round loser
fifteen tho pounds, which is a big increase for those
(12:13):
guys too, So it's going to be massive. There's lots
on the line here and a big representation from players
all over the world. You got a player from I
think there's the first time a player from Kenya is playing,
for example, first time someone from Argentina. You know, so
all these new countries getting represented. It should be exciting.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
The acceleration and prize money, the acceleration of interest in darts.
I'm presuming their linked inextricably. That's the why it's people now.
There are eyeballs on the bull's eye said I did that.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
I like that.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (12:41):
And one thing which I tell people all the time,
and they're fascinated about SkySports UK, which streams these events
most watch sport behind football obviously football is number one.
You think about the other sports. Sky Sports UK has
got ashes, cricket, golf, British and Irish Lions, all those things.
Darts superior. It's massive over there.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
What about snooker is it still a big over there
as well?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Well?
Speaker 8 (13:02):
I think snookers more on other streaming platforms, but it's
not probably not as big as one. Darts has really
taken over, and lots of that is due to the
effect of Luke Littler.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
You've always got to have somebody and I of the storm,
if you will. That's him and Luke Humphreys, although he's
maybe fallen away a bit, but in the situation in
World Ducks Darts, World Ducks, the situation when World Darts,
so Luke still right up the very top that the
Littler version are there new youngin's challenging him because everyone's
(13:35):
looking for the next great player, and I believe there
are a couple of guys floating underneath.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Yeah, so look that there's always going to be someone
coming through the ranks. There's actually a young Scottish guy.
I don't can't remember his name off the top of
my head, over think his last name's Walker. He played
at the BDO, which I call like the amateur World Champs,
fifteen years older. He reached the final of that. So
you know that that says something just just in that,
you know, you got a fifteen year old kid that's
(14:00):
been look Letler's record of playing the youngest ever to
play in a world final sort of thing, you know.
So it's insane. But look, there's all these lots of
young kids coming through the ranks and they're going to
be dominating for come. It's not going to be the
typical forty year old guy with the belly that arrives
in the room half an hour before him. It's going
to be these teenagers that are just in.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Full of beta blockers.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
So panic. Yeah, that's real old school about New Zealand participation.
Because of course the darts masters come over here, people
climb right into it. There are a couple of New
Zealanders floating round on the exterior. Is anyone from here
competing at the Champion Yeah?
Speaker 8 (14:33):
So Hopeipoh plays Saturday morning and probably about like one am.
He needs to probably reach the quarter finals to keep
his talk card, which is going to be a tough ask,
but he's qualified. He's snuck in there. Johnny Tata Monday morning.
I think Johnny can go on a bit of a run.
I'm going to say to at least the third round.
I think he's got a very favorable draw playing a
(14:53):
former European champion in the first round, but hasn't been
in very good form. But Johnny's had a great year
and I don't see why he can't kick on.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Is it the simplicity of the game that appeals to people?
What is it about darts?
Speaker 4 (15:05):
The people?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
But they sit on great, big, huge tables full of beer. Yeah,
stealing a diny screen way over there listening. Why the
attachment for the game do you think?
Speaker 8 (15:14):
I think it's the atmosphere that comes with the sport.
I think it's the ability to perform under pressure, you
know it. Darts is one of those sports where we
go out into a room and go into the news room.
We go up to anyone, you say, throw a dart.
They could probably do it where you can probably hit
the board. But then you say, all right, guys, let's
get one hundred people around to watch this person try
(15:35):
head a bullseye. That pressure is unreal and I think
the ability to perform under that pressure kind of keep nerve.
And even sometimes when you watch on TV, you watch
closely when they're pulling their hand back to throw the dart,
you can see their hand visibly shaking, and the ability
to try to keep that composure to hit whatever target
it is. Then it can be a minute target like
the bulls eye. It is incredible.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
I saw something cool online the other day around counting
back from five oh one, and the amount of work
that goes into that, so you know exactly what combination
you've got to at and where you've got to hit it.
That's an art. But on the subject of pressure, there
are some h hana, There are some women involved in
this World champs, and I'd suggest that the blokes, with
(16:16):
the egos they have in the testosterone they've got, the
last thing they want to do is draw a woman
and then get beaten by it. And that's distinctly within
the realms of possibility.
Speaker 8 (16:27):
Now, yeah, exactly. You know, Fallon Sherrick are the Queen
of the Palace as they call her. She you know,
created history a few years ago by winning a couple
of games up on the big stage, and she's back.
But the one that everyone has got talking about is
bow Grease, three time Women's World Champion. Ex exceptional talent.
She has the capability of averaging over one hundred. She
has the ability of pushing some of these top men players,
(16:50):
and she's proven that on the TV stage. She's playing
Daryl Gurney, who is going to be a bit of
a tricky customer. But the crowd is going to be
on her side, and it's going to be able to
Darrel to as we just touched on, perform under that pressure.
It's going to probably be no pressure on Bow. She's
going to be favorite to win because everyone wants to
see the woman players win in her own merit. She
(17:10):
is a top player. She's going to be competing on
the PDC Tour for the next two years, so we're
going to see a lot more of her in the
coming years. She's played the World Chance before. But if
there's someone that will cause a few upsets and when
over a few fans, it will be bo.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
So it starts this weekend, goes for how long obviously
all those players, it must be accelerated somewhat. Is it
just the standard knockout format?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Has it been?
Speaker 8 (17:34):
Yes, exactly. So starts Friday morning, New Zealand time, January fourth,
I think is the date in New Zealand Time. So
it does go on for a while. There is a
brief break during Christmas, like a three day break, but yeah,
there's essentially every day. There's two sessions, so one that
starts about one am New Zealand time, and then about
seven eight am New Zealand times, so four games in
(17:56):
each session, so they do get through, do get through them.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
That's the one I like. That's a late morning's entertainment
and something else that's dear to your heart. Rugby League.
No rest for these guys all back in preseason now on,
aren't they running up and down Sam's with the exception
of a couple of key players. Mirke Burger is one
of our colleagues. Run a piece today saying we're not
going to have these guys back for quite some time.
Who's he talking about and how long?
Speaker 8 (18:20):
Yeah, it's the thing he's talking about Luke Metcalf of course,
Mitch Barnett, who both did the ACLS last season. Look,
Birge has said that, you know, Luke Metcalf will probably
miss probably could miss about the first eight games so
which is a decent chunk of the season. Mitch Barnett
probably will be back slightly earlier. He might miss you know,
four to five. But if you run through like the
(18:41):
Warriors first six games of the season, Roosters, Raiders, Knights, Tigers,
Sharks and Storm, that's a pretty tricky run there. Titans
around seven again, so there are some tricky games. But
I think overall, the Warriors do have a slightly easier
schedule compared to previous years, which I think will bode
well in their favor.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
But what do you say that and he's schedule they're
playing in the NRL.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
Totally, totally, you are right, But they avoid to double
up with the Panthers for example. You know, so lots
of these top teams from last season, they only play
them once, which is great. But you look at say
like the Tigers, for example, I would have thought the
Tigers were going to probably be a bit more of
a contender heading into twenty twenty six. But the disarray
that's at the club at the moment, who knows what's
going to happen there, And so you know, that's a
(19:28):
curious case. The Knights Dylan Brown there next year. He
was excellent for the Kiwi, So if he can continue
that form, they're going to be a bit tougher. So look,
I think Mitch Barnett, I think it's important he gets
back because James Fisher Harris is a great leader, but
he's kind of like I would almost say, he's like
the sidekick leader. You know, Mitch Barnett's the one that
kind of is the one that will be the vocal,
(19:49):
the one that you like to see the main voice.
Fish Lates lead kind of behind the shadows, but as
a very good leader. Of course. Luke Metcalfe. Things did
go downhill a little bit when he did get injured
last year. But you'd say with Tanner Boyd probably having
a bit more time training with the team things like that,
it might be a bit better. But also the Warriors
do have a couple of roster spots still to fill
(20:09):
after Freddy Lussk got released to the Panthers last week,
so curious to see kind of what they do there.
I'm suspecting they'll probably promote someone within and maybe keep
that other spot open if someone does become available, because
it's rugby league after all.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
The best thing about metcalf he may be late, but
at least he stayed at the club and after the
rumors around well the end of this year, that's one
of the best news piece of news for rugby league,
is it not. He's staying. He's committed one hundred percent.
I think that's the thing as well.
Speaker 8 (20:39):
You do have to be a bit careful with in
terms of rushing him back because you don't want to
rush him back and he does his knee again. He's
done his ACR before, so it's not like it's not
his first rodeo. Quoting a former or current politician, I
should say so. Look, I think the Warriors do want
to It's better safe than sorry with a guy like
who's about to hit his peak, and especially the way
(20:59):
he did play before he did get injured. You want
him back at your best. So I think it's important
that they don't rush it, bring him back when he's ready,
and I have no doubt the Warriors will be fine.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
I love it. Middle of the cricket season. We're talking
darts and rugby league. You know what, because i'm sports
Fax and in the chamber, we can't. Ben Francis, thanks
so much for your time and expertise.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Wait by beating a fix, We've got just the ticket.
It's Sports Fix News Talks. Ivy.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Thanks very much for joining us on the Sports Fix podcast.
I'm Darcy Walter Grave. It has been a Wednesday, the
tenth of December twenty twenty five. If you've enjoyed what
we've put up, tell your friends and family, tell you
work mates, tell everybody and get them to subscribe, which
I think you should do as well. That way, this
podcast will end up in your inbox on a week
(21:47):
daily basis. And if you'd like some form of sport
talk you can engage in, We've got to show for
that too.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
It's called Sports Talk.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
It's on News Talks there be Monday to Friday from
seven to eight pm. Jason Pine's got the Monday gig.
I've got the rest of the week, and then Piney's
got the big gig coming up Saturday and Sunday weekend.
Sport twelve midday through until three o'clock.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
You've enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I hope you subscribe to this podcast, and we look
forward to providing more sport than you can eat for
you tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Keep safe for more from News Talks ed B listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
D be welcome on into the Sports Fix podcast. Good
day to you.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
My name is Darcy Walter Gave.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
It's Wednesday, the tenth of December twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Lined up for you in this edition, Curtis.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Of the Fine Folk as DJ Gardner Holmes, new Zealand's
most trusted home builder, will be joined in the podcast
by the chief executive of a special Olympics Summer Games,
and name is fran Scully, and we'll be talking about
what it is, when.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
It is and why it is.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I've got some opinion around FIFA and Trump, what a
train wreck that is, and joining us in the chamber
to talk about rugby league. I know that it's very strange.
Is Ben Francis, sports fighter from New Zealand Herald. Will
also touch on the upcoming World Dark Championships. Yeah, it
(01:11):
gets underway in a couple of days time. That's our
master plan. So I suppose we just hit go in
other news time out to hook into some short sports shots.
If it's turn twister for you. AKFC coper Steve Corca
since has been need maybe a bit more time from
the spot in training. Sure they won last week, but
(01:33):
they missed two penalties not acceptable really at this level.
June had one for thirty seven games and we missed
both of.
Speaker 6 (01:41):
Them, so all a confidence thing.
Speaker 7 (01:43):
I think penalty kicking the right spot. Unfortunately Sam miss
is one, but that happens sometimes you don't like to
happen to us.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
There will be four wild cards in the upcoming ASB Classic.
Sloan Stevens is one of them, also Venus Williams Katie
Bulter out of Britain and he yet to be named
key we Tournament director Nicholas Lamberen is hopeful for the
Classic will give a springboard effect to stevens career reboot.
Speaker 8 (02:12):
Insteadly, she couldn't compete most of twenty twenty five due
to injuries, but now she's feet again and she's ready
to play, so I think it was our duty to
help her come.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Back to the top five performers are sport in z
is welcoming more athletes or the prospect of them turning
up to a pay christ judge because there's a new
base down there park has opened up. The sports complex
has composition for HPS in z training hub there in
that half a billion dollar facility regional amountainer Andy Alis
(02:45):
says that I'm pause for athletes to turn up, but hey,
if you want to come on down.
Speaker 8 (02:50):
We aren't in competition with regions and other facilities.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
What this is isn't that an addition.
Speaker 8 (02:56):
Of the offering across our facility network for high performance
sport museum and so athletes now have a wonderful.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Choice and there are your suite but short sports swipes.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
You're welcome use an opinion.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
It's SPORTSFX with Darcy Valdegreve.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
We'll join our the podcast by fran Scolly.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Fran is the chief executive officer of the Special Olympics.
The Summit Games happening in Autuntahi, christ Church. You joined
just now, Hi, Fran, how are you sorta Darcy?
Speaker 6 (03:26):
I'm good, thank you? How are you going?
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Good?
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Great to have you on.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
So I suppose first up, tell us exactly what this
celebration of sport is all about.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Because she's rather large.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
It covers a lot of places all over Aututahi christ Church.
So let's just start from the start. What exactly is
the Special Olympics National Summer Games.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
Great question.
Speaker 7 (03:48):
So Special Olympics National Summer Games is for people with
an intellectual impairment to compete in their chosen sport, representing.
Speaker 6 (03:57):
Their region and their club.
Speaker 7 (03:59):
In Autotahi christ Church, we've got ten different sports that
our athletes will be competing in. We've got twelve hundred
and five athletes competing alongside six hundred coaches and cares
that have come down into Autotahi christ Church for the week.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
That's a big number sport wise. How many sports do
they participate in and what kind of spread? What are
we talking about here sport wise? I'm presuming there'll.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Be sports that a lot of people play.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
There may be some slightly tweaked sports as well, because
it is a Special Olympics.
Speaker 7 (04:35):
Yeah, so we actually have ten sports. Our most popular
sport is actually ten pin bowling, followed by swimming, and
then we have basketball. So we've both got individual sports
and we've got team sports.
Speaker 6 (04:48):
All of the sports.
Speaker 7 (04:49):
Are standard in the sense that there are no adaptations,
so our athletes compete to the best of their abilities
and that's how they operate into their different divisions.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Massive sport, big execution For you guys, I've got to
ask who funds this? Where does the money come from
put on an event of such size.
Speaker 7 (05:10):
Yeah, we have amazing partners that support us. We've got
some philanthropic money, we've got some grant funders, and then
we do have our clubs that fundraise as well. So
it is a diverse of revenue streams that allow this
event to take place. And so we're just looking forward
to christ Church seeing it in action.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Across christ Church.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
How many venues are you looking at and for how
long does this event go frame?
Speaker 7 (05:35):
Yeah, So we've got the opening at Wolfbrook Arena tonight
where we know we have over five thousand people that
are going to be coming in. So our teams makeup
seventeen hundred. So we've got the rest that have coming
in as volunteers and local supporters.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
So we can't wait to showcase that.
Speaker 7 (05:52):
The games officially kick off on Thursday and run all
the way through to Sunday. We're operating out a paddaicure day.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
With basketball and swimming.
Speaker 7 (06:01):
We've got equestrian golf that are out.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
At the venues. We've got indoor bowls with bowls Canterbury.
Speaker 7 (06:10):
We've got out and up on a wi We've got
our powerlifters, athletics, we've got our football, and we also
have botchy.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
This is once every four years, is that correct frame?
Is this a regularly occurring event?
Speaker 7 (06:26):
Yeah, it is once every four years, and the reason
why we do that is every other year we were
building up to this. So we have athletes that participate
locally and they build their confidence in order to go
to what we call a T two event. That's a
weekend event, so they're away from home for two days.
So what we're doing with that is ensuring that our
(06:48):
athletes have built the confidence enough to be away from
home and they're rearing to go. And then the next
step with that is obviously the National Summer Games, which
is about four days away from home. And then we
have athletes that wish to participate even further at Well
Games and for those athletes, they're away for about three weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
So that's the target. Idea is these athletes want to
go in a global stage. Is that the bell on
the end all for these athletes?
Speaker 6 (07:14):
No, that's not the bee on end all.
Speaker 7 (07:16):
So we have athletes that just want to participate, that
just want to make friends, that just want to have
an opportunity to give a sport to go. So we've
got our community based participation and then if we've got
athletes that want to go into a more high performance
environment or actually represent at a wider stuck scale, then
they go and participate at that world stage.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Kind of age group to be looking at.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
Here anywhere from eight to like eighty.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
And the fact that's been going everyone.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Yeah, so it's been it goes every four years.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
How long has this been up and running on a
global scale, but more important to here in.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
Yeah, So Special Olympics Movement worldwide was founded in nineteen
sixty eight, and in New Zealand it was founded by
Grant Quinn in nineteen eighty. So he was teaching a
couple of down syndrome swimmers in the Lower Hearts in
Wellington and he came across this American lady that said,
you just have to come over and see the Special
(08:16):
Olympics in action, and that's where it started. They took
four swimmers over. When they came back, Grant decided that
he was going to travel the whole entire New Zealand
and he knocked on the doors of every single mayor
in every single town in the quest for inclusion and
special Olympics, and today we have forty two clubs throughout
(08:36):
the whole entire.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Country dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfax with Darcy Waldergrave.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
From the sublime to the well quite frankly ridiculous. I
used the term over the weekend to describe the FIFA
World Cup drawer as grotesque. I was referencing, of course,
Donald Trump. What on earth he was doing there in
the first place. I don't know. Oh, actually, no, hold on,
I do. Because the president of FIFA, Johnny Infantino, wanted
(09:09):
to cut love to him and give him a wee
bro hug. It was disgusting to watch. As it turns
out what and Fantina was up to when he awarded
Donald to Trump with a FIFA Peace Prize. Where on
earth did that come from? He just wanted to curry
favor with old Donald. It turns out he's a real
(09:30):
mate of Donald Trump, and he's constantly on social media
and everybody else stolen the virtues of Donald Trump and
what he's doing, which to any sane minded person is
plainly insane. But he did it anyway, couldn't stop laughing
at the idiocy on display. I don't believe it had
(09:50):
happened on such a big world stage, it's such an
important event as the draw for the FIFA World Cup grotesque.
But as it turns out, I'm not the only one
who shook my head and put my face in my palms.
Other people have been deeply upset well, specifically Fair Square,
(10:10):
which is a group that seeks to promote greater accountability
across sport. They've basically written a letter of complaint to
FIFA's Ethics Committee saying that what Infantino is up to
was in breach of FIFA rules. The phrase from Fair
Square was the award of a prize of this nature
(10:32):
to a sitting political leader is an end of itself,
a clear breach of FIFA's duty of neutrality. So FIFA
wabble on their merry old way with absolutely no accountability,
not unlike Donald Trump. Let's hope the football is more
(10:53):
satisfying than the baboonery that was on display last weekend
at the FIFA draw.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfex.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
And we welcome now into the Christmas Chamber because it's
that kind of yeah and we're are going to be
talking about something's very Christmas related news journalists. For them,
you said in Herald, mister Ben Francis, get a ben
Merry Christmas over.
Speaker 8 (11:17):
Same to you, Darcy, as I say, it's getting very
close to what I define the start of Christmas. I
know everyone's got their different dates, but for me, we're
so so close. It is nearly there, and I am
super excited.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Okay, so we're going to talk about this because it's
not something we talk about a great deal on air,
but we probably should. I get excited about it as well.
It's Christmas. To me, it's the World Darce Championship. There's
something about the morning, sitting around till midday watching the
guys chuck the arrows.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
It's a huge event. And then it's getting bigger.
Speaker 8 (11:50):
Yeah, that's right, Darcy. So this year one hundred and
twenty eight players expanded field, biggest ever for the World
Darts Champs. But the biggest you know cherry. On top
of everything for the one hundred and twenty eight players,
there is the million pound prize, the biggest it's ever
been last year five hundred thousand, So it's a massive
increase for the winner even if the first round loser
fifteen tho pounds, which is a big increase for those
(12:13):
guys too, So it's going to be massive. There's lots
on the line here and a big representation from players
all over the world. You got a player from I
think there's the first time a player from Kenya is playing,
for example, first time someone from Argentina. You know, so
all these new countries getting represented. It should be exciting.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
The acceleration and prize money, the acceleration of interest in darts.
I'm presuming their linked inextricably. That's the why it's people now.
There are eyeballs on the bull's eye said I did that.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
I like that.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (12:41):
And one thing which I tell people all the time,
and they're fascinated about SkySports UK, which streams these events
most watch sport behind football obviously football is number one.
You think about the other sports. Sky Sports UK has
got ashes, cricket, golf, British and Irish Lions, all those things.
Darts superior. It's massive over there.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
What about snooker is it still a big over there
as well?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Well?
Speaker 8 (13:02):
I think snookers more on other streaming platforms, but it's
not probably not as big as one. Darts has really
taken over, and lots of that is due to the
effect of Luke Littler.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
You've always got to have somebody and I of the storm,
if you will. That's him and Luke Humphreys, although he's
maybe fallen away a bit, but in the situation in
World Ducks Darts, World Ducks, the situation when World Darts,
so Luke still right up the very top that the
Littler version are there new youngin's challenging him because everyone's
(13:35):
looking for the next great player, and I believe there
are a couple of guys floating underneath.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Yeah, so look that there's always going to be someone
coming through the ranks. There's actually a young Scottish guy.
I don't can't remember his name off the top of
my head, over think his last name's Walker. He played
at the BDO, which I call like the amateur World Champs,
fifteen years older. He reached the final of that. So
you know that that says something just just in that,
you know, you got a fifteen year old kid that's
(14:00):
been look Letler's record of playing the youngest ever to
play in a world final sort of thing, you know.
So it's insane. But look, there's all these lots of
young kids coming through the ranks and they're going to
be dominating for come. It's not going to be the
typical forty year old guy with the belly that arrives
in the room half an hour before him. It's going
to be these teenagers that are just in.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Full of beta blockers.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
So panic. Yeah, that's real old school about New Zealand participation.
Because of course the darts masters come over here, people
climb right into it. There are a couple of New
Zealanders floating round on the exterior. Is anyone from here
competing at the Champion Yeah?
Speaker 8 (14:33):
So Hopeipoh plays Saturday morning and probably about like one am.
He needs to probably reach the quarter finals to keep
his talk card, which is going to be a tough ask,
but he's qualified. He's snuck in there. Johnny Tata Monday morning.
I think Johnny can go on a bit of a run.
I'm going to say to at least the third round.
I think he's got a very favorable draw playing a
(14:53):
former European champion in the first round, but hasn't been
in very good form. But Johnny's had a great year
and I don't see why he can't kick on.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Is it the simplicity of the game that appeals to people?
What is it about darts?
Speaker 4 (15:05):
The people?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
But they sit on great, big, huge tables full of beer. Yeah,
stealing a diny screen way over there listening. Why the
attachment for the game do you think?
Speaker 8 (15:14):
I think it's the atmosphere that comes with the sport.
I think it's the ability to perform under pressure, you
know it. Darts is one of those sports where we
go out into a room and go into the news room.
We go up to anyone, you say, throw a dart.
They could probably do it where you can probably hit
the board. But then you say, all right, guys, let's
get one hundred people around to watch this person try
(15:35):
head a bullseye. That pressure is unreal and I think
the ability to perform under that pressure kind of keep nerve.
And even sometimes when you watch on TV, you watch
closely when they're pulling their hand back to throw the dart,
you can see their hand visibly shaking, and the ability
to try to keep that composure to hit whatever target
it is. Then it can be a minute target like
the bulls eye. It is incredible.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
I saw something cool online the other day around counting
back from five oh one, and the amount of work
that goes into that, so you know exactly what combination
you've got to at and where you've got to hit it.
That's an art. But on the subject of pressure, there
are some h hana, There are some women involved in
this World champs, and I'd suggest that the blokes, with
(16:16):
the egos they have in the testosterone they've got, the
last thing they want to do is draw a woman
and then get beaten by it. And that's distinctly within
the realms of possibility.
Speaker 8 (16:27):
Now, yeah, exactly. You know, Fallon Sherrick are the Queen
of the Palace as they call her. She you know,
created history a few years ago by winning a couple
of games up on the big stage, and she's back.
But the one that everyone has got talking about is
bow Grease, three time Women's World Champion. Ex exceptional talent.
She has the capability of averaging over one hundred. She
has the ability of pushing some of these top men players,
(16:50):
and she's proven that on the TV stage. She's playing
Daryl Gurney, who is going to be a bit of
a tricky customer. But the crowd is going to be
on her side, and it's going to be able to
Darrel to as we just touched on, perform under that pressure.
It's going to probably be no pressure on Bow. She's
going to be favorite to win because everyone wants to
see the woman players win in her own merit. She
(17:10):
is a top player. She's going to be competing on
the PDC Tour for the next two years, so we're
going to see a lot more of her in the
coming years. She's played the World Chance before. But if
there's someone that will cause a few upsets and when
over a few fans, it will be bo.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
So it starts this weekend, goes for how long obviously
all those players, it must be accelerated somewhat. Is it
just the standard knockout format?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Has it been?
Speaker 8 (17:34):
Yes, exactly. So starts Friday morning, New Zealand time, January fourth,
I think is the date in New Zealand Time. So
it does go on for a while. There is a
brief break during Christmas, like a three day break, but yeah,
there's essentially every day. There's two sessions, so one that
starts about one am New Zealand time, and then about
seven eight am New Zealand times, so four games in
(17:56):
each session, so they do get through, do get through them.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
That's the one I like. That's a late morning's entertainment
and something else that's dear to your heart. Rugby League.
No rest for these guys all back in preseason now on,
aren't they running up and down Sam's with the exception
of a couple of key players. Mirke Burger is one
of our colleagues. Run a piece today saying we're not
going to have these guys back for quite some time.
Who's he talking about and how long?
Speaker 8 (18:20):
Yeah, it's the thing he's talking about Luke Metcalf of course,
Mitch Barnett, who both did the ACLS last season. Look,
Birge has said that, you know, Luke Metcalf will probably
miss probably could miss about the first eight games so
which is a decent chunk of the season. Mitch Barnett
probably will be back slightly earlier. He might miss you know,
four to five. But if you run through like the
(18:41):
Warriors first six games of the season, Roosters, Raiders, Knights, Tigers,
Sharks and Storm, that's a pretty tricky run there. Titans
around seven again, so there are some tricky games. But
I think overall, the Warriors do have a slightly easier
schedule compared to previous years, which I think will bode
well in their favor.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
But what do you say that and he's schedule they're
playing in the NRL.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
Totally, totally, you are right, But they avoid to double
up with the Panthers for example. You know, so lots
of these top teams from last season, they only play
them once, which is great. But you look at say
like the Tigers, for example, I would have thought the
Tigers were going to probably be a bit more of
a contender heading into twenty twenty six. But the disarray
that's at the club at the moment, who knows what's
going to happen there, And so you know, that's a
(19:28):
curious case. The Knights Dylan Brown there next year. He
was excellent for the Kiwi, So if he can continue
that form, they're going to be a bit tougher. So look,
I think Mitch Barnett, I think it's important he gets
back because James Fisher Harris is a great leader, but
he's kind of like I would almost say, he's like
the sidekick leader. You know, Mitch Barnett's the one that
kind of is the one that will be the vocal,
(19:49):
the one that you like to see the main voice.
Fish Lates lead kind of behind the shadows, but as
a very good leader. Of course. Luke Metcalfe. Things did
go downhill a little bit when he did get injured
last year. But you'd say with Tanner Boyd probably having
a bit more time training with the team things like that,
it might be a bit better. But also the Warriors
do have a couple of roster spots still to fill
(20:09):
after Freddy Lussk got released to the Panthers last week,
so curious to see kind of what they do there.
I'm suspecting they'll probably promote someone within and maybe keep
that other spot open if someone does become available, because
it's rugby league after all.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
The best thing about metcalf he may be late, but
at least he stayed at the club and after the
rumors around well the end of this year, that's one
of the best news piece of news for rugby league,
is it not. He's staying. He's committed one hundred percent.
I think that's the thing as well.
Speaker 8 (20:39):
You do have to be a bit careful with in
terms of rushing him back because you don't want to
rush him back and he does his knee again. He's
done his ACR before, so it's not like it's not
his first rodeo. Quoting a former or current politician, I
should say so. Look, I think the Warriors do want
to It's better safe than sorry with a guy like
who's about to hit his peak, and especially the way
(20:59):
he did play before he did get injured. You want
him back at your best. So I think it's important
that they don't rush it, bring him back when he's ready,
and I have no doubt the Warriors will be fine.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
I love it. Middle of the cricket season. We're talking
darts and rugby league. You know what, because i'm sports
Fax and in the chamber, we can't. Ben Francis, thanks
so much for your time and expertise.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Wait by beating a fix, We've got just the ticket.
It's Sports Fix News Talks. Ivy.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Thanks very much for joining us on the Sports Fix podcast.
I'm Darcy Walter Grave. It has been a Wednesday, the
tenth of December twenty twenty five. If you've enjoyed what
we've put up, tell your friends and family, tell you
work mates, tell everybody and get them to subscribe, which
I think you should do as well. That way, this
podcast will end up in your inbox on a week
(21:47):
daily basis. And if you'd like some form of sport
talk you can engage in, We've got to show for
that too.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
It's called Sports Talk.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
It's on News Talks there be Monday to Friday from
seven to eight pm. Jason Pine's got the Monday gig.
I've got the rest of the week, and then Piney's
got the big gig coming up Saturday and Sunday weekend.
Sport twelve midday through until three o'clock.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
You've enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I hope you subscribe to this podcast, and we look
forward to providing more sport than you can eat for
you tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Keep safe for more from News Talks ed B listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com