Released 16/08/2019
The ACT Government has partnered with the Australian Olympic Committee to bring the ‘Olympic Spirit’ into schools across Canberra ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Students across Canberra will be inspired to unleash their potential to pursue their passions, set goals and build resilience to overcome challenges through the Olympics Unleashed program.
“The 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.
“The ACT Government aims to provide opportunities for young Canberrans to grow from grassroots to elite sporting if that’s their dreams.
“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,” Minister Berry said.
Through engaging 45-minute presentations athletes will cover topics such as self-awareness, focus and motivation and promote the benefits of living an active, healthy and balanced lifestyle.
The athletes attended their first training session on Monday 12 August with education and communication specialists to equip them to tell their stories and help young Australians be the best version of themselves in the classroom, the playground, sporting field or at home.
“It was fitting to launch the program at Ainslie School today, which has a long history of connections with Japan becoming the first school in Australia to have a sister school in Japan in 1964, and to come full circle to the Tokyo Olympics, the sister school is Nezu Elementary School in Tokyo,” Minister Berry said.
The first session will be held in the coming weeks, schools can register at olympicsunleashed.com.au
Quote from Matt Carroll AM, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Olympic Committee:
“Olympians have inspiring stories that go beyond sport,” Carroll said. “They bring to life the importance of finding a passion, setting goals and building resilience to overcome challenges.
“An Olympic journey is never a straight line – having athletes sharing their stories, including the challenges and how they overcame them, is a vital lesson that can help young people no matter what their passion.
“Teachers have told us having an Olympian face to face in the classroom is a powerful way to engage students about what you can achieve when you have a goal and work 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.”
Quote from Marianna Tolo, Australian Basketballer:
“Olympics Unleashed is a great opportunity to give back to this community that has given me so much.”
“I love the Canberra area so much, and it’s so good to have a chance to interact with students across the ACT and help inspire the next generation.”
“I hope my story can show students that it doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, if you keep turning up and working hard you can achieve anything you set your mind to – whether that’s sport, academics, music, whatever you set your mind to. If you keep turning up, you’ll get better every day.”
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases
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