See you in the Czech Republic – 28th April to 4th May 2014

Newcastle, New South Wales will play host to the first ever Special Olympics 2013 Asia Pacific Games with the opening ceremony on Sunday 1 December. More than 2,000 athletes from 32 countries plus officials, supporters, spectators and volunteers will start arriving in Newcastle on Thursday.

It’s not to be confused with the Paralympics but the Special Olympics offers Olympic-style individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities. The participants will compete in Athletics, Badminton, Bocce, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Table Tennis, Ten Pin Bowling and Swimming. 

The performers will be part of a two hour Opening Ceremony spectacular of music, dance and fireworks to be held at Hunter Stadium. The Opening Ceremony features the who’s who of Australian music including Marcia Hines, Anthony Callea, Iva Davies, The McClymonts, Doug Parkinson and Marina Prior. Aside from these fantastic performers there will also be performers from Newcastle and the Hunter, lighting of the Games cauldron as the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run reaches the stadium, reciting of the Athletes’ Oath and of course the official opening.  

Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 4.2 million athletes in 170 countries.  

www.specialoympics.org

In June 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for children with intellectual disabilities at her home in Maryland, USA.  She started this camp because she was concerned about children with intellectual disabilities having nowhere to play. Using this as an example, Shriver, who was head of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation and part of President Kennedy’s Panel on Mental Retardation, promoted the concept of involvement in physical activity and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Camp Shriver became an annual event, and the Kennedy Foundation (of which Shriver was executive vice president) gave grants to universities, recreation departments and community centres to hold similar camps.  

Shriver and Kennedy’s oldest sister, Rosemary Kennedy, underwent a lobotomy in an effort by their father to cure her mental disability. The brain damage inflicted by the operation caused her to be permanently incapacitated.  This disability is often credited as Shriver’s inspiration to form Special Olympics. 

The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago in 1968. Anne McGlone Burke, a physical education teacher with the Chicago Park District and recipient of a Kennedy Foundation grant,[12] began with the idea for a one-time Olympic-style athletic competition for people with special needs.  

More than 1,000 athletes from across the United States and Canada participated but participation is now worldwide. In 1971, The U.S. Olympic Committee gave the Special Olympics official approval to use the name “Olympics”. The first 1977 Special Olympics World Winter Games were held in February 1977 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA. In 1988, the Special Olympics was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Here’s the November/December 2013 Newsletter of Newcastles of the World.

NoW Nov Dec 13

The next gathering of the Newcastles of the World will be in the town of Nové Hrady in the Czech Republic from Monday 28 April 2014 until the closing dinner on Saturday 3 May.

We know that Mayor Vladimir Hokr and his organising team are already into detailed planning, and we’ll have a wonderful time in this beautiful small town in South Bohemia, just one km from the Austrian border.

Coaches will be put on to bring delegates from Prague airport on both Monday 28th daytime or the afternoon of Sunday 27th, but for anyone who wants to arrive earlier there will be events in Nové Hrady to enjoy over the weekend of 26/27.

At the end of the summit, Nové Hrady would wish to encourage delegates to visit the other Nové Hrady in the Czech Republic (Zamek Nové Hrady in Pardubice area on the way back to Prague, east of the capital). Transport will be put on if needed. Delegates can then go on to Prague for late afternoon flights or stay in Zamek Nové Hrady or Prague overnight and fly on Monday 5th

Registration details for the conference will be available soon, via this website linked to a dedicated website for the event. Nové Hrady will also be giving us details of the main theme for the conference discussions.

The July newsletter is available here, full of news and features about Newcastles around the world.

NoW July 13 newsletter

Newcastle Municipality does it again, by receiving the Govern Mbeki Award for the best Level 2 Accredited municipality in South Africa.  In a ceremony held in Johannesburg there to accept the award on behalf of the Municipality was the Mayor of Newcastle Cllr Afzul Rehman and the Municipal Manager Mr. Kebone Masange.

This accreditation means that Newcastle will  be planning and delivering housing opportunities with direct funding from the National Department of Human Settlements.

“It is an absolute honour and privilege to be the Mayor of this outstanding municipality at a time when it scoops up every award it is ever nominated for.” said Mayor Afzul Rehman.

When interviewed Mr.Masange was humbled by the whole experience. “Sometimes we do not realise the impact we have until we receive such awards. This is not only about housing but is about the creation of sustainable communities both in terms of service infrastructure and provision of community facilities offered by the Municipalities. In addition only two Municipalities were accredited Newcastle and EThekwini which is a Metropolitan; this goes to show that we are competing with the best.

The Municipality was previously accredited as an Level 2 municipality with 6 other municipalities in the province of KwaZulu Natal. On 25 April 2013 the Municipality further accepted the Govern Mbeki award provincially as the best Level 2 accredited municipality and now further to their amazement has received the National level.

Reciting  the Municipal theme for 2013 ‘Taking Newcastle to the next level’. The Mayor emphasized  that they have taken  planning for human settlement as a priority, with continuous meetings with the department of KwaZulu Natal and the Minister to ensure that housing projects are taken seriously

“ We have over a R1 billion rands of approved housing projects. We are going to ensure that there is housing in our communities, it’s a priority of our ANC led municipality.”

Govan Mbeki was a prominent ANC freedom fighter imprisoned with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others on Robben Island, who He served in South Africa’s post-apartheid Senate from 1994 to 1997 as Deputy President of the Senate, and its successor, the national Council of Provinces from 1997 to 1999. His son Thabo Mbeki succeeded Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa.

Every two years, the Renaissance comes back to life in Neuburg on the Danube on the last weekend of June and the first week of July. This historic town is the unique backdrop for a fascinating spectacle. The entire city walks in the footsteps of Count Palatine Otto Heinrich and celebrates a lavish party. The Steckenreiter dance in the courtyard, the grand parade and the brilliant fireworks over the Danube to the sounds of Paul Winter are just a few highlights in Neuburg Castle Festival.

Visit and you will be part of Neuburg’s royal past. Let yourself be carried away – from the hustle and bustle of the historic fair , to the noble charm of dance and bold Equestrian Games . Neuburg is ready to welcome you on 28 – 30 June and 05 – July 7

We are running a community based organisation in Newcastle, KZN called the Newcastle Creative Network www.newcastlecreativenetwork.org and our page here on fb http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-Creative-Network/177237322368092?ref=hl please pay us a visit

The NCN was imitated in January 2011 with a desire to stimulate youth engagement in art and cultural activities in Newcastle and its surrounds through education and skills development that culminates in the creation and uptake of economic opportunities.

http://www.newcastlecreativenetwork.org/#

Email info@newcastlecreativenetwork.org