LONDON 2012 EDUCATION PROGRAMME
| Published: 18th June 2008 17:18 |
London 2012 Education Programme: Paralympic Handover website and resources go live
|
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today (June 16) formally invited schools, colleges and other learning institutions across the East of England, together with those across the UK, to lead the UK celebrations around the Paralympic Handover on September 17, 2008.
A new website and resources have been launched to help children and young people make their plans for marking the moment the Paralympic Flag is handed from the Mayor of Beijing over to the Mayor of London.
As of today all schools, colleges and local authorities in the East of England will receive a Paralympic Handover pack from London 2012. This includes details of the new website that can be found at: www.london2012.com/paralympichandover, a timeline showing the history of the Paralympic Games and a short DVD film featuring British athletes who are set to compete at the Beijing Games together with highlights of some of the all time great Paralympic moments.
The website presents tools, resources and ideas for whole school or college celebratory activities. Materials include assembly plans, suggested activities, fact sheets, certificates and a bank of Paralympic images.
Schools and colleges are invited to register their details on the website and share their ideas for celebration activities. Registrations received by 25 June 2008 will be in with the chance of winning a Visa Trip Package to the Beijing Paralympic Games which consists of a full programme of activity, including flights and accommodation for five nights. In addition, the most exciting and inspiring ideas for celebration activities will win a visit from a Paralympian, courtesy of Visa's Team Visa mentoring programme. Full details of the competition can be found on the Share and Register pages of the Paralympic handover resource.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: "Our vision is to inspire and change the lives of children and young people through the London 2012 Games and our Education Programme is an integral part of our work to achieve this. To help us launch the London 2012 Education Programme, we are inviting schools and colleges across the East of England to plan activity around the Paralympic Handover Ceremony on 17 September, and then to join us on a four year journey to 2012.
"By motivating young people in formal and non-formal education and capturing their imagination we can help them to fulfil their potential, and we can create a legacy that will continue long after the London 2012 Games have ended."
ParalympicsGB Chief Executive, Phil Lane said: "It is fantastic to see LOCOG committed to inspiring a younger generation through the ideals and achievements of Britain's Paralympians and the spirit of the Paralympic movement as a whole.
"If we are to remain a leading nation in the world of Paralympic sport we must ensure that education really challenges young people and this LOCOG initiative will help achieve that ambition."
The forthcoming London 2012 Education Programme
The activity in schools and colleges on September 17 will launch London 2012's domestic Education Programme which will ‘go live' the following day on 18 September.
London 2012 today announced that the core of the programme is based on creating a UK-wide network of schools, colleges and other educational institutions in which children and young people are empowered to demonstrate and live their commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values.
A new interactive website will support children and young people in learning about, exploring and committing to these values of Respect, Excellence, Friendship, Inspiration, Determination, Courage and Equality. There will be dedicated sections for children and young people of different ages, practitioners and senior management.
The website will contain flexible resources, films and updated news to help support and shape the children's and young people's projects. Children and young people will work with their practitioners to develop goals and targets which are relevant to their place of learning and, crucially, build on existing national and local objectives.
An accreditation programme will incentivise and reward those who get involved, with a range of opportunities including the use of special London 2012 education branding. The first institutions to achieve qualifying status will be announced in September 2009, following a competition for young people to help design this branding and giving institutions and their young people a full academic year to plan and articulate their involvement in the scheme.
Institutions will be encouraged to post information on the website and generate their own content about their activities, sharing best practice with the rest of the network.
Nick Fuller, Head of Education at LOCOG said: "Children and young people are at the heart of our education programme: we want to maximise their involvement in the London 2012 Games. This programme isn't just about sport; it's about challenging and inspiring children and young people to join in, to make a difference and to realise their potential in whatever context that may be.
"Ideas for activity that demonstrate commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values will be submitted by young people. The scheme is about recognising the distance each institution has travelled in reaching its own goals and targets around the Olympic and Paralympic values."
In addition, LOCOG will be working with its partners to develop resources that complement the core programme. Over the next four years eight key themes will be developed: internationalism; citizenship; practical learning; sport and PE; enterprise; sustainability and regeneration; culture and creativity, and healthy, active lifestyles.
For example, EDF Energy, a London 2012 Tier 1 sponsor and Sustainability Partner, will be a key contributor to the sustainability and regeneration strand with their new website called ‘The Pod'. ‘The Pod for greener schools' will explore climate change, energy and sustainability issues and how children and young people can make a difference at home, school or college and in their communities.
To develop the programme, LOCOG is working with the Department of Children, Schools and Families and - through the London 2012 Nations and Regions group - the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and Northern Ireland.
Jim Knight, Minister for Schools said: "The Olympic and Paralympic spirit can be hugely motivating to young people - symbolising people using their abilities to achieve at the highest level. My department is delighted to be working with LOCOG to realise the educational potential of the 2012 Games."
means that the programme is fit for purpose,
Cllr Stephen Castle, Chairman Nations and Regions East and LOCOG Nations and regions Group member said: "This is an exciting year providing our young people with real opportunities to celebrate the Games coming to the UK. The Games is truly an inspirational event and in the East we want to ensure that we use it to raise the aspirations of young people across our region.
I know that a number of our schools and colleges will be celebrating the Paralympic Handover Ceremony on 17th September with activity that I hope will kick off further plans to encourage young people to use the London 2012 education programme to help them achieve their learning goals."
Michael Wright, Head of Sport, North Hertfordshire College and contributor to the development of the London 2012 Education Programme said: "The London 2012 Education Programme, launching with the Paralympic Handover in September this year, is a real opportunity for children and young people across East of England to play their part in the London 2012 Games. Careful consultation with a range of people who lead schools and colleges means that the programme is fit for purpose, flexible and builds on existing objectives - children and young people, wherever they live - can be inspired by the education programme. We look forward to getting involved."
|
