We have over 50 visits booked for this Autumn for both primary and secondary schools. The primary school visits were booked up in minutes. Our ambassadors are happy to be back with in-person visits where possible while also reaching schools all over the country from the north tip of Donegal to the south tip of Cork with virtual visits.
We've had a number of school visits happen already with our Olympic Ambassadors, Rugby 7s Tokyo Olympian Billy Dardis visited Scoil Moibhi, Margaretstown, Skerries. Olympic Swimmer, Ellen Walshe visited Scoil Naomh Ide in Clondalkin, Dublin. View some of the images we captured below!
Dare to Believe Visits are On!
The Dare to Believe Olympic school programme is back stronger than ever with 100 Olympic ambassador visits on the cards for this School year. This term’s 50 school visits were booked up within minutes and the demand is high for both our primary and secondary school programmes. We are delighted to be back offering in-person visits to the delight of both students and athletes alike. And yet the virtual visits are still benefitting harder to reach schools and ambassadors with busy training and work schedules.
Below are some quotes from school visits we've had so far;
Excellent programme. Olympic Swimmer. Danielle Hill was brilliant
- Scoil an Aingil Choimheadai, Donegal
A fantastic opportunity for the school community to meet an Olympian and learn what it takes to get to that position.
Riverstown NS Glanmire, Cork
Oliver Dingley was inspirational!. He was wonderful with the children and so positive about sport, the Olympics and life. The children thoroughly enjoyed his fitness lesson in the yard. We will remember his visit for a long time to come.
- Gaelscoil Nás na Ríogh, Meath
Providing the opportunity for children to meet and greet sports people they look up to. The children had endless questions for the ambassador (Billy) which he happily answered. The programme has helped instil the values of respect, hard work and resilience in my classroom and our school. -
Scoil Moibhi, Dublin
Inspirational to both students and teachers-
St Finbarrs BNS, Cork
It was such a fantastic day for the school, especially though for the class involved in the programme. Sarah was so obliging with her time and she really connected with the children. I think it was an added bonus that she was a Limerick athlete and the children could relate to how she got to be an Olympian. She went to a nearby primary school and competed at the Limerick Primary School athletes just like many of the pupils in our school.
Generally, the programme is very worthwhile and I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it to other schools and teachers. Having someone so recognisable as Sarah Lavin visiting the school was fantastic for the children in the school and a day they won't forget.
I will certainly be trying to avail of another opportunity like this in the future. Thank you.
Herbertstown NS, Limerick
Special Edition Posters
As a special lasting gift for schools lucky enough to take part this year is a new special edition Dare to Believe poster that features Olympic Champion and new crowned European Champion Kellie Harrington, Olympic Bronze Medallists Aifric Keough and Eimear Lambe, 2 X Olympian and European Medallist Thomas Barr and Irish Hockey Star Roisin Upton. In addition to the teacher and student workbooks this poster will surely inspire students well beyond the duration of the programme.
IOC Ovep Workshop
The Dare to Believe Team of Roisin Jones and Roisin McGettigan, were asked to join a special Olympic Value Education Programme workshop at the International Olympic Committee’s Headquarters. They were asked to present their work at Dare to Believe and learn from a select number of OVEP programmes from around the world.
What’s next:
Transition Year Events
We are delighted to kick off the first of our Transition Year visits after the midterm. Our ambassadors cannot wait to begin meeting the older students who’ve been working through the Dare to Believe TY Lifeskills through Sports programme.
In addition to our visits, Dare to Believe will be attending the TY Show coming up on November 8th at the National Sports Campus where over 4000 students will be attending. We will have Dare to Believe ambassadors present to giving talks, doing panel discussions as well as giving live Olympic sports demonstrations!! It’s gearing up to be a great event!
Live Webinar - Meet the Medallists
On November 16th our two rowing Olympic bronze medallists Eimear Lambe and Aifric Keough will go live answering questions from students around the country. Set to be an exciting event, in two separate webinars, both primary and secondary students will have the opportunity to “Ask them Anything” and learn more about the lifestyle and mindset of these Olympic super stars. Link to register is located above.
Primary Schools webinar, 16th of November at 10:00am - 10:30am, register by clicking here
Secondary Schools webinar, 16th of November at 11:30am - 12:00pm register by clicking here
Over the past twelve months over 77,000 primary school children have engaged with the programme which has adapted to the globally changing environment. Since 2020 Dare to Believe has included hugely popular virtual challenges such as the Road to Tokyo, as well as a successful collaboration with RTÉ’s Home School Hub. Dare to Believe is an interactive ‘Five Ring’ curriculum teaching students about Olympics values such as respect, friendship and striving for excellence, and includes a classroom visit from a Team Ireland ambassador.
Eimear Lambe (Olympic Bronze Medallist) School Visit
The secondary school curriculum is based on the same principles and has been developed in conjunction with teachers and explores important topics through the lens of sport. Aimed primarily at Transition Year students, topics that are addressed range from the positive impact of sport on society as a whole and well-being, to important topics such as respect, equality and hate speech, through the ‘Don’t Scroll By’ module. The curriculum encourages dialogue around key subjects such as mental health and racism.
The expansion of the programme includes 15 exciting new ambassadors who will deliver their story to classrooms, imparting insights on their sporting journey and sharing tips on how to deal with challenges, demonstrating examples of their resilience. The ambassadors range from Olympic hopefuls to Olympic and Paralympic medallists, including Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington, Olympic bronze medallists Aifric Keogh and Eimear Lambe and Paralympic silver medallist Nicole Turner.
The TY modular programme is designed for secondary schools looking for a new way to engage students in an interdisciplinary wellness and life skills programme that is based on the Olympic Values of healthy mind & body, respect, joy of effort, courage, equality & excellence. The curriculum aligns with the Key Skills and indicators of Wellbeing and learning outcomes for Transition Year including being personally effective, communication, critical and creative thinking and information processing. The programme successfully bridges the gap from practical Junior Cycle PE to Leaving Cert PE that includes theory in addition to practical. In addition, the curriculum will show sport’s impact on social, environmental and economic issues at local, national and global levels.
Join us on August 30th for a free webinar which will take you through everything you need to know on the new Dare to Believe TY Programme curriculum. We’ll dive into everything that is included and give you a sense of how easy it is for teachers to use. Joining us will be two teachers who have tested the programme, they will give a sense of how it was implemented into their own TY programme. Register for the free webinar by clicking the link below.
Dare to Believe ambassador and Tokyo Olympic Bronze Medallist Eimear Lambe understands the importance of having role models. The Dublin rower who became an Olympic medallist in Tokyo when she finished third in the final of the Women's Four with teammates Aifric Keogh, Fiona Murtagh and Emily Hegarty, explains how there is no one way to win a medal, and how a role model can come in many forms.
"Growing up I was constantly comparing myself to other amazing athletes, and I had them on pedestals and I would consider them these infallible people."
"But I think what's really important for people to see is that ordinary people really can do extraordinary things."
Eimear Lambe, Olympic Medallist
The Dare to Believe schools programme is sponsored by Team Ireland sponsor Permanent TSB, and a key element of the programme is athletes telling their story to school children.
"So I feel like having the opportunity to come to a school and just tell my story and let people know there are ups and downs to it. I wasn't born this big athlete, it took a long journey. Hopefully they can find inspiration in it, and see that maybe their path isn't as straightforward as they hoped it would be, but it doesn't mean they can't do amazing things."
To find out more about the programme head to www.daretobelieve.ie where teachers can register for the programme which is delivered in both primary and secondary schools.
PTSB is programme sponsor and 15 new athlete ambassadors added
Highlighting a significant expansion to the Olympic Federation of Ireland Olympic schools programme, Dare to Believe, Permanent TSB has today been revealed as the programme sponsor. Dare to Believe was originally launched in 2019, bringing the Olympic Games, and the Olympic values to primary schools around Ireland. Today’s announcement also sees the launch of the Dare to Believe Secondary School curriculum as well as the addition of 15 Tokyo 2020 athletes to the programme, bringing the total of Olympic and Paralympic ambassadors to 31.
Over the past twelve months over 77,000 primary school children have engaged with the programme which has adapted to the globally changing environment. Since 2020 Dare to Believe has included hugely popular virtual challenges such as the Road to Tokyo, as well as a successful collaboration with RTÉ’s Home School Hub. Dare to Believe is an interactive ‘Five Ring’ curriculum teaching students about Olympics values such as respect, friendship and striving for excellence, and includes a classroom visit from a Team Ireland ambassador.
The secondary school curriculum is based on the same principles and has been developed in conjunction with teachers and explores important topics through the lens of sport. Aimed primarily at Transition Year students, topics that are addressed range from the positive impact of sport on society as a whole and well-being, to important topics such as respect, equality and hate speech, through the ‘Don’t Scroll By’ module. The curriculum encourages dialogue around key subjects such as mental health and racism.
The expansion of the programme includes 15 exciting new ambassadors who will deliver their story to classrooms, imparting insights on their sporting journey and sharing tips on how to deal with challenges, demonstrating examples of their resilience. The ambassadors range from Olympic hopefuls to Olympic and Paralympic medallists, including Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington, Olympic bronze medallists Aifric Keogh and Eimear Lambe and Paralympic silver medallist Nicole Turner.
Harrington has been a Dare to Believe ambassador since the launch of the programme in 2019 and is passionate about inspiring communities and schoolchildren around the country. The Olympic gold medallist is also a Permanent TSB ambassador and speaking at the announcement said,
“I want to give kids what I have had in my sporting career, and I want to let them know that believing is achieving. That anything is possible once they believe.
Kellie Harrington, Dare to Believe Ambassador
"Through the Dare to Believe programme, as ambassadors, we can show them the power of believing in their dreams, and that if they dare to believe they can achieve something positive in their lives, be it an actor, a singer or a sports star. I’m excited to see the programme expand to transition year students, and think that this can make a real difference for someone out there.”
Dare to Believe was founded by Beijing 2008 Olympian Roisin McGettigan,
“We are delighted to be expanding our Dare to Believe programme to secondary schools. We all know that there is a high level of teenagers dropping out of sport and this programme aims to address this and promote the wider values of sport; physically, socially and mentally. Through Dare to Believe sport is promoted as self-development tool for character building, leadership, connection to community and wellbeing. We worked with TY teachers and students at every stage of the TY programme's evolution to ensure that the 6-unit curriculum is fit for purpose as an interdisciplinary life skills and wellbeing programme. Our Olympic & Paralympic ambassador role models can't wait to get into schools to work with this cohort and I'm sure they will have an incredible impact on the students they engage with.”
Speaking at the launch, Eamonn Crowley, Permanent TSB Chief Executive Officer, said:
“The Dare to Believe schools programme has had a significant impact on communities across the country over the last 12 months, reaching more than 77,000 primary school children. We are proud to be able to support its expansion into secondary schools, to help to further grow that impact.
“Our community ethos is a key differentiator for Permanent TSB and like us, Dare to Believe is grounded in communities across the country.
“This is a natural sponsorship for the Bank as it goes hand-in-hand with the recent announcement of our landmark partnership with the Irish Olympic and Paralympic teams for Paris 2024.
“Everyone in Permanent TSB is excited about Team Ireland. We want to share that excitement with the many thousands of schoolgoers that will benefit from not only the programme, but from the opportunity to meet Ireland’s Olympians and Paralympians, who are an excellent example of just what can happen when you dare to believe.”
Speaking today, Peter Sherrard, OFI CEO said,
“We are delighted to have Permanent TSB’s support to grow and develop our Dare to Believe schools programme. Since it started in 2019, it has gone from strength to strength. The athletes have shown how powerful and inspirational their stories can be to children all over the country.
“Thanks to Permanent TSB, we have an exciting new secondary school curriculum that will see our athlete ambassadors engaging students through a range of stimulating and relevant topics that transcend sport - helping teenagers so much at a critical time in their development journeys.”
Registration for the Dare to Believe programme is free of charge and all details can be found on www.daretobelieve.ie for both primary and secondary curriculums.
#
First Name
Last Name
Sport
County
1
Thomas
Barr
Athletics
Waterford/Limerick
2
Brendan
Boyce
Athletics
Cork
3
Sive
Brassil
Pentathlon
Dublin
4
Orla
Comerford
Athletics (PI)
Dublin
5
Clare
Cryan
Diving
Dublin
6
Billy
Dardis
Rugby
Dublin
7
Ollie
Dingley
Diving
Dublin
8
Philip
Doyle
Rowing
Down
9
Monika
Dukarska
Rowing
Kerry
10
Michelle
Finn
Athletics
Dublin
11
Martin
Gordon
Cycling Track (PI)
Dublin
12
Kellie
Harrington
Boxing
Dublin
13
Phil
Healy
Athletics
Waterford
14
Danielle
Hill
Swimming
Antrim
15
Brendan
Irvine
Boxing
Antrim
16
Aifric
Keogh
Rowing
Galway/Dublin
17
Eimear
Lambe
Rowing
Dublin
18
Sarah
Lavin
Athletics
Limerick
19
Marcus
Lawler
Athletics
Carlow
20
Thomas
Maloney Westgård
Cross-Country Skiing
Norway
21
Shirley
McCay
Hockey
Belfast
22
Brendan
Newby
Freestyle Ski
Utah, USA
23
Shane
O Donoghue
Hockey
Dublin
24
Sarah
Quinn
Athletics
Mayo
25
Louise
Shanahan
Athletics
Norway
26
Greta
Streimikyte
Athletics - Paralympian
Meath
27
Richael
Timothy
Cycling Track (PI)
Galway
28
Nicole
Turner
Swimming - Paralympian
Laois
29
Roisin
Upton
Hockey
Limerick
30
Grainne
Walsh
Boxing
Offaly
31
Ellen
Walshe
Swimming
Dublin
Last week we officially launched the OFI Dare to Believe Road to Beijing, inviting school children around the country to join us on an interactive journey to Beijing, celebrating winter sports, Team Ireland and the Chinese culture along the way.
One of the goals of Road to Beijing is to get children active in a fun way, and to help them enjoy the many benefits of sports! To celebrate that we have unveiled a Winter Circuit Challenge with many of our winter sports stars contributing to an exercise video that can be played in schools for a quick fitness hit!
Sign up to the Road to Bejing by registering below:
OLYMPIC FEDERATION OF IRELAND LAUNCHES WINTER OLYMPIC SCHOOLS CHALLENGE – ROAD TO BEIJING
The challenge is part of the OFI’s ‘Dare to Believe’ programme
To coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of Team Ireland competing in the Winter Olympics, and on the back of the hugely successful Olympic Schools Challenge last summer, the Olympic Federation of Ireland has today launched Road to Beijing. The free online schools challenge will run from the 4 – 20 February, the same timeline as the Games in Beijing, and will bring students on an interactive journey from Ireland to China, celebrating winter sports, Team Ireland and the Chinese culture on the way.
Schools can create teams, and as the classes long their physical activity, it is converted to a distance on an interactive map which helps them move from Ireland to Beijing, passing Chamonix and Innsbruck en route, and unlocking videos and activities on the way. The online registration portal is now open REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL FOR THE CHALLENGE HERE.
Road to Beijing is part of the OFI’s Dare to Believe Programme and aims to open up the world of winter sports to Irish school children as well as teaching them about Team Ireland at the Winter Olympics and celebrating the Chinese culture. The 10,000km challenge is modelled on the last summer’s Road to Tokyo which saw 55,000 school children get more active while also learning about the wider benefits of sport and the Japanese culture.
Speaking today, Róisín McGettigan-Dumas, Dare to Believe programme creator, said,
“Inspired by the success and feedback from our Road to Tokyo challenge received, we were excited to recreate the magic and evolve our Olympic School Challenge website and curriculum to coincide with the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Students and teachers will be fascinated to learn about the life of Winter Olympians and be inspired to get active themselves by trying out the snow sport PE lessons & games. In addition, students will enjoy the variety of classroom cultural activities & crafts and we can’t wait to see their creations.”
Annie Colquhoun, Teacher at Christ Church National School, Waterford stated,
“This is such an exciting topic to start off the beginning of 2022. The free lesson plans and PE ideas are so motivating for both staff and pupils alike and it has created such a buzz of excitement within the school. “The free resources are absolute gems! The lesson plans are exciting and engaging for all age groups, promoting cross curricular learning within the classroom.”
Alpine Skier and Team Ireland Olympian Tess Arbez has been contributing to the Road to Beijing challenge, and is looking forward to inspiring school children around Ireland,
“I’m passionate about sports, and especially winter sports, and I’m really excited to see that school children around the country will be learning about our sports. Competing in Pyeongchang was a dream come true, and now there is an extra special feeling knowing that young people all around Ireland will be sharing my passion and backing me while we are competing. It will be a very special Games, and best of luck to everyone taking on the Road to Beijing.”
Sign up to get involved in the Olympic Schools Challenge – Road to Beijing HERE
The OFI Dare to Believe programme is now in its fourth year and it teaches primary school students about Olympic Values and Olympism through a curriculum that includes over 40 of the approved education methodologies. The new Olympic Schools Challenge – Road to Beijing will focus on exploring the joy of effort and the wider benefits of sport and staying active, with topics like teamwork, visualisation, motivation and goal setting discussed on the way. Find out more here.
The official poster for the latest schools challenge from the OFI Dare to Believe programme has been revealed. Road to Beijing will run in schools nationwide next February, to coincide with the Winter Olympic Games. Modelled on the successful Road to Tokyo, which saw 55,000 students take part, the aim of the Road to Beijing is to open up the world of winter sports to Irish school children as well as teaching them about Team Ireland at the Winter Olympics and celebrating the Chinese culture.
To mark the reveal of the official poster, the Dare to Believe team have launched a colouring competition that will run from the 17 December - 17 January, with the winners to be announced at the official launch of the OFI Dare to Believe Road to Beijing Olympic Schools Challenge.
For more details on how to enter the competition visit the OFI Dare to Believe website.
Next week Team Ireland will be encouraging school children around Ireland to Get Active as part of the Active Schools Week 2021 campaign. This is an initiative of the Active Schools Flag where for one whole week there is a concerted effort to get children around the country moving!
For Dare to Believe athletes Sarah Lavin, Ollie Dingley and Anna O'Flanagan this serves as a perfect warm up session for the Olympic Schools Challenge Road to Tokyo which kicks off the following week and runs for the month of May.
Using sample games that were displayed in the RTÉ Home School Hub Olympics last year, with referee Kenneth Egan (Olympic silver medallist in boxing), and a host of Team Ireland athletes like Kellie Harrington and Thomas Barr, we are challenging children to try some fun games like Toss the Ring and the egg and spoon race.
Team Ireland is supporting Active Schools Week, which is the key part of the Active Schools Flag applications process.
Every day next week we will be sharing a Team Ireland challenge video so stay tuned!
Speaking ahead of Active Schools Week, coordinator Karen Cotter said,
“Active Schools Week is a flagship event for us in the Active Schools Flag. The initiative is about getting school children nationwide active, and to get them enjoying the various sports and activities that can help them achieve the physical activity goals that are recommended. We are delighted to team up with Team Ireland for this year’s Active Schools Week, along with our other partners – and are looking forward to sharing the daily challenges set by the Irish Olympic athletes, and know that they will go down a treat!”
Active Schools Week 2021 runs from 26-30 April 2021.
Sitting on Anna O’Flanagan’s desk are a set of pens that have remained in the packet for almost six years now.
In just under a hundred days, she may finally get around to chucking them out, maybe even burn them. Bought in something of an emotional daze in Valencia, in 2015, the day after Rio qualification was denied by the width of a post, they sit there as a vivid reminder of shattered dreams.
“They will definitely go in the bin once I set foot on the pitch in Tokyo!” the Green Army’s all-time top goal-scorer says of that pen set.
“There’s a long way to go and I need to hopefully stay fit and well and play to the best of my ability over the next while to get on that pitch. Maybe I can burn them then!”
For many of her team-mates, the stationery is an odd keepsake but is something O’Flanagan uses to find something of an emotional catharsis in good times and bad.
“I have lots of notebooks and do get slagged over it!” she laughs. “I find it interesting to write about how I am feeling. You can have so many thoughts going around your head, worries or concerns, thinking about what might happen.
“When you write it down, your rational brain kicks in and the act of writing means you can rationalise it a bit better and wonder ‘why was I thinking about it like that?’ When you put pen to paper, it can look a bit ridiculous. It helps get a sense of reality!”
It is something which helped her through the tough lockdown times when she struggled for a sense of purpose. O’Flanagan has put her career on hold to, first, pursue and succeed in the run-up to 2018 World Cup silver, and then again for this Olympic push after a stint with Deloitte in the Netherlands.
But when Tokyo was put on hiatus, it had her questioning what next as the limbo of whether or not the Games would go ahead was played out.
“There was so much uncertainty for everyone in the world. For us, as athletes, we thrive off certainty and being planned. What gets me through training and those tough days is really visualising being at that next major tournament, being at the Olympics, competing and winning games.
“I went through a period when I just couldn’t see it, I couldn’t feel it. The world seemed so upside down that the thought of being able to travel to an Olympics seemed so far away.
“That was when I struggled the most. The last couple of months, there’s been such positive communication coming from Tokyo and also seeing other sports teams and events happen.
“Now, I can see it unfold. It will be weird and different for sure but being able to visualise it makes it seem more real, more tangible. We have to stay focused and assume it is happening, but I am not as anxious now that it will be binned at any second.
“That was so hard when we were training and trying to do your best, doing it with that in the back of your mind. I don’t have that worry anymore.”
The nature of the current world, though, means the road remains a bumpy one with plenty of twists and turns. The most recent example, last week’s proposed trip to Malaysia being called off at the last minute.
“Malaysia was a disappointment, but we are still able to train and play and this just gives us a perspective on how sport is cruel and your whole sporting career can change overnight. You have to treasure each day.”
A feature of the Green Army story, though, is how they roll with the punches and while other countries may be new to such slings and arrows of fortune, O’Flanagan says there will be few better outfits capable of coping.
“We know if there is any team that knows how to deal with adversity, it is us. If there is any team that has come together before and succeeded, it is us.
“We always say we are used to playing in front of no supporters. An empty stadium in Japan is no different to training in Abbotstown every week. Those little things add up.
“We saw from the GB win that what we are doing here has been going well and the year probably has stood to us as a group. If anything, we enjoy doing it when our backs are against the wall.”
* Irish international hockey star, Anna O'Flanagan, is an ambassador of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s new Olympic Schools Challenge, ‘Road to Tokyo’. The interactive challenge will engage with school children, encouraging them to get more active and teaching them about Tokyo and the Olympic Games.
The challenge is part of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s ‘Dare to Believe’ schools programme, which is proudly supported by FBD, and sees Team Ireland calling on schools and families across the country to join them on the Road to Tokyo from May 4th to May 31st. You can find out more here:https://www.daretobelieve.ie/roadtotokyo
OLYMPIC FEDERATION OF IRELAND IN ASSOCIATION WITH FBD INSURANCE LAUNCHES NEW OLYMPIC SCHOOLS CHALLENGE ‘ROAD TO TOKYO’
The challenge is part of the OFI’s ‘Dare to Believe’ programme
The Olympic Federation of Ireland in association with FBD Insurance has today launched their new Olympic Schools Challenge, ‘Road to Tokyo’. The challenge is part of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s ‘Dare to Believe’ schools programme and sees Team Ireland calling on schools and families across the country to join them on an interactive journey from Ireland to Tokyo from May 4th to May 31st.
The Olympic Schools Challenge ‘Road to Tokyo’ offers schools across the country the opportunity to take part in a fun, interactive and educational journey with a host of Team Ireland athletes, as they begin preparations for the final months on the road to this year’s Olympic Games. Schools and families can get involved by logging their physical activity and workouts, which convert to kilometres and move them closer to Tokyo each step of the way.There will be four stopovers en route for all involved, where students will learn about the Olympics, Tokyo, and get some insights and pro tips from Team Ireland athletes. There will be spot prizes, art challenges, and quizzes to make sure that all interests are catered for!
Now in its third year, ‘Dare to Believe’ - which was set up with funding from Olympic Solidarity and is supported by FBD Insurance - brings the Olympics into the classroom for over 5,000 children nationwide. The school activation programme is championed and supported by the Olympic Federation of Ireland Athletes’ Commission, and was developed by 2008 Olympian, Róisín McGettigan-Dumas. It teaches primary school students about Olympic Values and Olympism through a curriculum that includes over 40 of the approved education methodologies. The new Olympic Schools Challenge ‘Road to Tokyo’ will focus on exploring the joy of effort and the wider benefits of sport and staying active, with topics like teamwork, visualisation, motivation and goal setting discussed on the way
Speaking today, Róisín McGettigan-Dumas was looking forward to the new schools challenge: Speaking today, Róisín McGettigan-Dumas was looking forward to the new schools challenge: “We are really excited to be launching this new Olympic Schools Challenge for pupils, teachers, schools and families across the country, and to be inviting them to join us on the Road to Tokyo. This is a hugely exciting way to bring the Olympics and, in particular, this year’s Olympic Games, into the classroom for children across the country, and held build excitement for our athletes as the countdown to Tokyo continues. Through this programme, we are really looking forward to showing children across Ireland that they can dare to believe, and we hope that this challenge will not only inspire children to follow their dreams, but will also help to motivate them to get out there and get active with their classmates and families. We are extremely grateful for the support from both Olympic Solidarity and FBD Insurance, which allows this programme to continue to grow.”
Also speaking at today’s launch, Team Ireland athlete Sarah Lavin stated: “I am absolutely delighted to be a part of such a special launch today with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and FBD Insurance as part of their ‘Dare to Believe’ programme. The Olympic Schools Challenge ‘Road to Tokyo’ is one I would have loved to have taken part in myself when I was younger, and I know there are many pupils around the country who are already counting down to Day One of the challenge on May 4th. When I was young, my dream was to represent Ireland and to compete at an Olympic Games and hopefully, through this challenge and the ‘Dare to Believe’ programme overall, we can inspire the next generation of Olympic athletes and start them off on their own sporting journeys.”
The Dare to Believe Programme is a collaborative project which is supported by a number of stakeholders including the IOC, the OFI Athletes' Commission and the Irish Olympians, as well being supported by FBD Insurance.
Dare to Believe and follow Team Ireland on the Road to Tokyo
COMING SOON
This May join Team Ireland on the Road to Tokyo. Over the month we are inviting schools and families to join us in an interactive journey from Ireland to Tokyo, with our Olympic athletes offering tips, insights and activities along the way!
The Summer Olympic Games occur every four years, and following the postponement of the 2020 Games by one year, Team Ireland are in their final months of preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, which take place from the 23 July - 8 August.
In April we will be launching our ROAD TO TOKYO Olympic Schools Challenge, where classes and families can log their activities, 15 minutes at a time, and watch their tracker move across the world to Tokyo. There will be four stops en route, where students learn about some of the Olympic Values, the history of the Games, and get some insights into the lives of the Team Ireland athletes. There will be spot prizes, art challenges, and quizzes to make sure that all interests are catered for!
The focus for this challenge is exploring the joy of effort and the wider benefits of sport and staying activity, with topics like teamwork, visualisation, motivation and goal setting discussed on the way.
The campaign will be launched on April 13th officially.
Last weekend we had a number of highlights from Equestrian and Golf, with a round up of those medal winning performances from Eventer Cathal Daniels and Golfer Stephanie Meadows. This weekend will be another relatively quiet one, and we have also included an interview with Jack Woolley who is preparing for his first competition since the pandemic started. For anyone interested in getting the transcript, it is available on request.
The Olympic qualification status of the athletes can be found AT THIS LINK which will be regularly updated. While many athletes are currently training from home, with little competition, see below a summary of sports which will see Irish Olympic hopefuls in action this coming weekend. This weekly update is provided in collaboration with the various National Governing Bodies, and the press officer contact details for each sport is provided below.
Olympic Federation of Ireland Updates
Dare to Believe on RTÉ After School Hub Winter Games – Following last week’s announcement of FBD’s sponsorship of the programme several of the Dare to Believe ambassadors have featured on RTÉ’s After School Hub Winter Games. The aim of this has been to introduce younger children to the Olympic sports in a fun and interactive way.
Equestrian
Last weekend Ireland’s 2019 European Championship bronze medallist in Eventing Cathal Daniels (Galway) continued his preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games with a commanding win in the feature CC14*_S at the Portugal Winter Tour in Barroca d’Alva. While this event held a chance for some international athletes to achieve the qualification standard needed for the Games, it was not relevant to Ireland, who have already made history with full teams qualified in all disciplines – Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping. Full report HERE.
Golf
After a three week break Stephanie Meadows and Leona Maguire were competing in the Pelican Women’s Championship Presented by Dex Imaging & Konica Minolta in Belleair, Florida from the 19-22 November. Stephanie finished third on the LPGA tour, which sees her jump a couple of places to 38th in the Olympic rankings. Leona finished T53, and also has jumped a few spots to 43rd in Olympic rankings.
Stephanie Meadow credited the huge team behind her after matching her career best LPGA Tour finish with a third place result at the Pelican Women’s Championship.
Playing in the final group alongside eventual champion Sei Young Kim and Ally McDonald, the Jordanstown professional recovered from bogeys at her opening two holes to post a hard-fought one-under par round of 69 for a nine-under par tournament total and a podium finish. The result ties her career-best performance, last earned at the 2014 US Women’s Open and is proof that the hard work is paying off for the now 28-year old. Full report HERE
Swimming
Saturday (28th Nov) is the final week of Swim Ireland Performance Athletes Time Trial Series. Athletes who have been training at the National Sports Campus, UL Sport and in Bangor will race against each other in the third of the series at the NAC. This is the first time that athletes will come together with the previous two race days held in their home pools as virtual races.
Taekwondo
This week’s interview was with Ireland’s Taekwondo star, Jack Woolley. Earlier this year Jack successfully secured Ireland’s first every spot in Taekwondo, competing in the -58kg category. In this interview (transcript available on request), Jack talks about some of the strategic decisions that were made when planning competitions that ultimately led to Olympic qualification, and also about the strides that he has made in his own training during lockdown.
Next week Woolley travels to Bosnia, where he will prepare for competition in the European Championships which takes place on the 10 December. WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE.
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