The Education Directorate has teamed up with the Australian Olympic Committee to bring the ‘Olympic Spirit’ into Canberra’s schools ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry said students across Canberra are to be inspired to unleash their potential to pursue their passions, set goals and build resilience to overcome challenges through the Olympics Unleashed program.
“Olympics Unleashed will bring more than 30 Olympians and athletes aspiring for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics into 135 primary and secondary schools over the next 12 months to share their stories and life lessons,” Ms Berry said.
“It’s so important for young people to have access to elite athletes and community role models through programs like Olympics Unleashed because you can’t be what you can’t see.”
She said athletes would give 45-minute presentations covering topics such as self-awareness, focus and motivation and promote the benefits of living an active, healthy and balanced lifestyle.
She said the athletes attended their first training session last week with education and communication specialists there to equip them to tell their stories.
Chief Executive of the Australian Olympic Committee, Matt Carroll said teachers had told the Committee that having an Olympian face to face in the classroom was a powerful way to engage students about what they could achieve when they had a goal and worked towards it.
“This message can help young Australians be the best version of themselves – whether that’s in the classroom, the playground, the sporting field or at home,” Mr Carroll said.
