The eighth New Zealand Special Olympics begin in Dunedin on Wednesday.
About 1200 athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete until Sunday in 10 sports, including aquatics, equestrian and tenpin bowling.
An opening ceremony will take place at 9.30am and the competitions start from 1.30pm at various venues in Dunedin.
Equestrian events will be held further south, at Balclutha.
Special Olympic events have been held every four years for about three decades and the Otago region, is hosting them for the first time.
