As I walked through the corridors of New Cross College in Finglas yesterday, the teacher beside said the most exciting thing about having Katie Taylor and the other Sky Sports Living For Sport mentor athletes on the premises was that the girls in the school were every bit as buzzed about sport as the boys.
Equality of opportunity comes in many forms but excitement is the best fuel to keep it going.
The athletes were there to launch the third year of the initiative which this year has added another 16 new athletes to the programme, bringing their total to 33.
The programme is part of the Sky Academy which aims to enrich the lives of a million schoolchildren in Britain and Ireland between now and 2020.
In the Living for Sport element Athlete Mentors go into schools to take a session which can be a mix of sports training and life skills. Schools apply to join the programme which is delivered free and so far 210 have done so, getting near to the original three year target of 250.
We spoke to Taylor who has headed the initiative here from the outset and she is positive about the impact it can have.
“This is an important way to share my story and see the impact it can have for young people to know that hard work and confidence in yourself, what you are and what you can stand for can make a difference.”
Anna Geary and Cora Staunton were also on hand today and really looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring.
“It’s less about what we’ve done than who we are, our personal stories that make the escape of sport more real,” said Geary.
“We’ve been through four days of really great training with the Youth Sports Trust out at the National Sports Campus,” added Staunton.
“It has fired us up to be as good as we can be in giving kids an insight into the fact that sporting success, just as any other, is more dependent on attitude and effort rather than some rare talent. That’s a message that can be really important.”
Padraic Moran from the Paralympic sport of Boccia is another to join the team this year, as is Noel McGrath whose personal story of overcoming cancer will be among the hardest to deliver but potentially have the greatest impact.
“We’re delighted with the success of Sky Sports Living for Sport since we launched the programme in Ireland.” said Mark Deering, Director of Corporate Affairs with Sky Ireland.
“Over 200 schools and thousands of children across the country have now experienced first-hand the positive impact that Sky Sports Living for Sport can bring to their lives.”
“So we’re pleased that Katie, as the Sky Academy Ambassador, has today announced a great new line-up of Athlete Mentors to join our existing team who will help to reach even more young people across the country as the programme continues to expand.”
The new additions to the Sky Sports Living for Sport team will be visiting secondary schools throughout Ireland and use sports to inspire young people to develop confidence and valuable life-skills.
The 16 new members of the Sky Sports Living for Sport team will join 17 existing Athlete Mentors which includes Kerry footballer Darran O’Sullivan, sprinter Brian Gregan, modern penthathlete Natalya Coyle and Irish rugby star Alison Miller.
Teachers can run the Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative on a stand-alone basis or as part of existing curriculum activities by selecting up to 20 students who they feel need support and submitting a simple project plan online.
Sky then sends out a starter pack for the teacher and t-shirts for the students. As part of the project, teachers set goals with their groups including asking them to lead their own sports event, before finally celebrating the group’s achievements.
At a time when the emphasis on raising levels of physical activity in schools is an important part of the National Physical Activity Plan, the continuation of this programme is an important statement of intent, as well as a real resource for schools to tap into.
The other Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentors joining the team this year include:
· Paul Geaney (Gaelic Football)
· Owen Diviney (Rower)
· Louise Galvin (Rugby/ Soccer)
· Kevin Conlan (Gaelic Football)
· Molly Dunne (Camogie)
· Lucy Mulhall (Rugby)
· Caradh O’ Donovan (Kickboxing)
· Carla Rowe (Gaelic Football)
· Deirdre Ryan (High Jump)
· Aine Tighe (Gaelic Football)
· Paul Byrne (400m Hurdles)
· Andrew Fahey (Hurling)
