Story: Disability sport

Father Leo Close

Father Leo Close

Father Leo Close competes in the discus at an athletics meeting in around 1975. Close was a pioneer of organised sport for disabled athletes in Ireland before moving to New Zealand in 1964. He was instrumental in organising disability sport in Otago–Southland and at a national level. Close was a Paralympian for Ireland at Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964. He competed for New Zealand in the 1968 Mexico and 1972 Munich Paralympics, and in the 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Dunedin.

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How to cite this page:

Ian McDonald, 'Disability sport - Development of disability sport', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38018/father-leo-close (accessed 13 May 2024)

Story by Ian McDonald, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Feb 2022 with assistance from Catriona McBean