The 32nd Annual New Zealand Games for the Deaf was hosted by Christchurch in 1987. The popular athletics interclub and open championship ran to a tight program, from 8:00am to 12:00 noon, overseen by Malcolm Ward, the Christchurch athletics delegate, and Norman Norris, the athletics technical delegate. The programme was as follows:
- 08:00 – Open and Warm Up
- 08:30 – 1500m Men Final
- 08:40 – Shot Put Women
- 09:00 – Shot Put Men
- 09:30 – 100m Women Final
- 09:50 – Long Jump Women
- 10:10 – Long Jump Men
- 10:30 – 400m Men Final
- 10:35 – Discus Men
- 11:10 – 4 x 100m Men
- 11:20 – 4x 100m Women
- 11:30 – 800m Men Final
- 11:45 – Presentation
- Cancelled – 400m Women
You can see a homemade sign, ‘CHRISTCHURCH DEAF CLUB, COME ON!’ from locals encouraging their athletes. The Oxspring Shield for interclub athletics went to Auckland with 32 points. Wellington was in second place with 26 points, and Manawatu with 13 points. Christchurch had 3 points and Otago was 5th with 1 point.
The 32nd Annual NZ Games for the Deaf in Christchurch provided valuable experience for hosting the World Deaf Games to be held in Christchurch in January 1989. It also allowed for the selection of the New Zealand Deaf team. The athletics interclub and open championship was held at Queen Elizabeth II Park, a multi-use stadium, located in a large park of the same name. The stadium had a capacity of 25,000 people and was built in 1973 to host the 1974 Commonwealth Games. It also served as the main stadium for the 1989 World Deaf Games.
At Cowles Stadium, Shona McGhie and Tony Walton are also interviewed by News Review.
