Galway students inspired by Olympic challenge
16 April 2020; Modern pentathlete Sive Brassil during a training session at her home in Ballinasloe, Galway. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
By Louise Toal
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has launched a new Road to Tokyo Olympic schools challenge – and a Galway teacher says it has inspired her pupils.
Road to Tokyo offers schools the opportunity to take part in a fun, interactive, and educational journey with a host of Team Ireland athletes, as they begin their final preparations for this year’s Olympic Games.
Senior Infants teacher Helen Fahey from Claregalway NS says her pupils are finding the challenge .
“We’re learning about new sports and the kids have been eating it up. The class are fascinated about the Modern Pentathlon and Galway athlete Sive Brassil,” said Fahey.
Brassil, the Ballinasloe Olympic hopeful, is hoping to bring home a gold medal from Tokyo this summer.
“They’ve started calling her a superhero. The Road to Tokyo challenge is cross circular and very inclusive and it’s a team effort,” added Fahey.
Schools and families can get involved by logging their physical activity and workouts, which convert to kilometres and move them closer to Tokyo with each entry. There will be four virtual stopovers en route for all involved where students will learn about the Olympics and Tokyo, while getting some insights and pro tips from Team Ireland athletes.
“The programme aims to inspire the younger generation, and it certainly does that. But I get as much out of it as the kids. I love getting to talk to students about their Olympic-sized dreams. Hearing all their dreams and goals reminds me that anything is possible,” said Brassil.
Road to Tokyo will focus on exploring the joy of effort and the wider benefits of sport and staying active. The progamme emphasises the importance of teamwork, visualisation, motivation and goal setting.
Team Ireland has called on schools and families across the country to join them on an interactive journey from Ireland to Tokyo between now and August.
Schools and families can sign up for the challenge on the Dare to Believe website. The challenge is being run in conjunction with FBD Insurance.
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