Establishing a three-prefecture consortium and dispatching Olympians and Paralympians to local schools
Professor Hidenori Tomozoe
Waseda University Olympic and Paralympic Education Research Center, established in July 29 and represented by Professor Hidenori Tomozoe from Waseda University’s School of Sport Sciences, has been selected for the 2016 National Olympic and Paralympic Movement Promotion, a project commissioned by the Japan Sports Agency. The goal of the Olympic and Paralympic Education Research Center is to deepen understanding and encourage interests in the Olympic/Paralympic sport events among citizens for success in hosting the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The center will organize school visits and hold classes on the Olympic and Paralympic games in elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and special needs schools nationwide.
For the students and members of the community, the center plans provide information on: 1) the Olympic and Paralympic Games, episodes and experiences of athletes, how the Games are organized, and 2) the importance and value of sports, cultural background of the participating countries, and the regional traditions and issues of Japan.
Specifically, Iwate, Hiroshima, and Kumamoto prefectures have formed a consortium, and Waseda University Olympic and Paralympic Education Research Center will dispatch lecturers and hold seminars and workshops for teachers at the Olympic and Paralympic education-designated schools appointed by the consortium. In addition, we will send Olympians and Paralympians, whom we only see on television, to community forums and lectures, where they will teach in direct coaching sessions. We believe the participating students will have the opportunity to learn the mindset of top athletes, their drive to work hard towards their goals despite hardships, and the mission of the Olympic Games, which exercises the spirit of fair play and giving a lending hand.
Holding class at an elementary school
On the other hand, teachers at these schools will be able to continue teaching classes on Olympic and Paralympic games for students by recognizing the value of sports and the excitement of the summer event once more. Furthermore, these schools can have workshops for teachers in neighboring schools, promoting and advancing Olympic and Paralympic education in neighboring schools.
Waseda University Olympic and Paralympic Education Research Center will launch a website with educational materials, including video footage, for the education program for teachers with interests in holding classes on the topic. We are excited by the prospects of students across Japan becoming more interested in sports through this program and feeling the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games closer to them at heart. Moreover, we hope they will feel more encouraged about supporting athletes to perform their best to win medals and better yet, be motivated to become athletes themselves and participate the Olympic and Paralympic games.
In ways mentioned above, Waseda University Olympic and Paralympic Education Research Center promises to promote the power of sports and the fascination of the Olympic and Paralympic games throughout Japan for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For more information, contact:
Waseda University Olympic and Paralympic Games Education Research Center
E-mail address: [email protected]
