News

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 funding by the the 2016 National Olympic and Paralympic Movement Promotion, a project commissioned by the Japan Sports Agency. The goal of the Center is to deepen understanding and encourage interest in the Olympic/Paralympic sport events among citizens for success in hosting the 2020 Tokyo Games. The Center will organize school visits and hold classes on the Olympic and Paralympic games in elementary, junior-high and high schools, and special needs schools nationwide.

For the students and members of the community, the Center plans to provide information on: 1) themselves, including episodes and experiences of athletes, and 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 will dispatch lecturers and hold seminars and workshops for teachers at the schools chosen by the consortium. In addition, the Center will send Olympians and Paralympians, whom most people only see on television, to community forums and lectures, where they will teach and direct coaching sessions. The Center believes 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 emphasizes the spirit of fair play and giving a helping hand.

Holding class at an elementary school

On the other hand, teachers at these schools will be able to teach classes on the 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.

The Waseda University Olympic and Paralympic Education Research Center will launch a website with educational materials, including video footage, for teachers with interests in holding classes on the topic. The Center is excited by the prospects of students across Japan becoming more interested in sports through this program and feeling the 2020 Tokyo Games closer to their hearts. Moreover, the Center hopes that they will feel encouraged to support athletes to perform their best to win medals and better yet, be motivated to become athletes themselves and participate in the Olympic and Paralympic games.

In the ways mentioned above, the Waseda University Olympic and Paralympic Education Research Center promises to promote the fascination and the power of sports throughout Japan for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

For more information, contact:
Waseda University Olympic and Paralympic Games Education Research Center
E-mail: [email protected]