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dsport have been named Supreme Award winners at the 2024 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards tonight for the 2024 World Wheelchair Rugby Paralympic Qualification Tournament.
dsport inspire and enable disabled people to participate in sport and active recreation and provide opportunities for them to achieve, at whatever level they choose.
Earlier this year, in a world-first, dsport transformed an indoor artificial grass turf into an international standard hardcourt wheelchair rugby competition space at the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport in Trentham. Over 10 days of high stakes competition, eight teams, with nearly 90 wheelchair athletes including the NZL Wheel Blacks, vied for the last three spots for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“It’s amazing because this is recognition for a whole lot of hard work by other people getting this tournament off the ground and pushing the boundaries of accessibility,” says dsport general manager Catriona McBean.
“Choosing a Supreme Award winner was a tough job for the judges this year as usual,” says Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke.
“dsport showed innovation and determination to make this wheelchair rugby tournament happen, showcasing the sport and inspiring the next generation of athletes. Here at the airport we saw first hand the level of planning and detail it took to bring this amazing event together.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards. Over this time the awards have recognised more than 1100 community organisations and their thousands of volunteers across the region.
“It’s been both humbling and a privilege to celebrate the Community Awards over the past 20 years. We’re always blown away by what the amazing people of Wellington are doing to make this city flourish,” says Matt.
Wellington Airport has also awarded six local high school students $1000 scholarships in the annual Wellington Airport Spirit Awards. These winners demonstrate self-motivation in service to their schools and community.
2024 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards Winners
- Supreme Award: dsport (World Wheelchair Rugby Paralympic Qualification Tournament)
- Arts and Culture: Asian Events Trust for the Wellington Lunar New Year Festival
- Education and Child/Youth Development: Te Kiwa Nui Festival (Wellington Northern Region Polyfest Trust)
- Health and Wellbeing: Kāpiti Women’s Centre
- Heritage and Environment: Wellington Severe Weather Reports
- Sport and Leisure: dsport (World Wheelchair Rugby Paralympic Qualification Tournament)
- Rising Star Award: Tū Mātau Ora
- People’s Choice Award: Mary Potter Hospice
2024 Wellington Airport Spirit Award Scholarship recipients
- Angus Galloway – Rongotai College
- Ashika Chander – St Catherine’s College
- Mevan Herath – St Patrick’s College
- Anuksa Pal – Scots College
- Mihirangi Kohatu – Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Nga Mokopuna
- Lucy Thorburn – Wellington East Girls’ College
