Our city will be pumping this week as host of the 2026 South Island Colgate Games at Saxton Field. It’s an opportunity to encourage and celebrate a new generation of New Zealand athletes and to showcase our region as the most active in the country.
The Colgate Games date back to 1978. They are for young athletes aged 7-14 and include running races from 60m to 1500m, Hurdles, Racewalk, Long Jump, High Jump, Discus, Shot Put and Relays.
The opening ceremony is on Thursday and the games conclude on Sunday. There are 960 athletes, most from the South Island but also from the North Island and Australia. They, with their families, coaches and supporters, will bring thousands of visitors to the region.
This event is being run by Athletics Tasman in conjunction with Athletics New Zealand. My thanks to the more than 100 volunteers helping and the local organising committee, chaired by Nelsonian Nicola Hodges.
These games sow the seeds for the proud moments we all enjoy as New Zealanders when our top athletes win Olympic and Commonwealth medals. They also help develop positive skills in our young people on how to compete, the joys of winning and the disappointment that goes with not winning as well as the life-long benefits of being active.
Nelson City Council is supporting these Colgate Games with a small grant of $5000. We do so because of the economic benefits of having thousands of additional people in the region and to support youngsters in sport.
It’s also an opportunity to showcase our region’s active lifestyle. Sport NZ ranks us as the most active in the country based on its annual survey of physical activity. We need, through events like these Games, The Spectacle and our iconic sports teams such as the Mako and Giants, to nurture a culture of being active.
We only get to host these Colgate Games because of the huge investment by the Nelson and Tasman councils, alongside sports clubs, in Saxton’s facilities. It’s been a great joint effort that needs to be continued.
Let’s make these young athletes and their families very welcome in Nelson this week.
