London 2017 Unveils Education Programme
London 2017 has unveiled Starting Blocks, the official education programme supporting the World Para Athletics Championships and IAAF World Championships London 2017.
Starting Blocks is a free education programme for teachers across the UK to get their students involved with London 2017. Designed to inspire, motivate and engage young people, Starting Blocks is the official education programme for both world championships.
The digital hub will provide free, curriculum-linked resources for teachers of pupils aged five to 14.
Three themes will connect students to the summer’s biggest sporting event; a Summer of World Athletics introduces young people to the events and excitement of the summer and to the sport of Athletics in PE and Sport; The World in One City celebrates the 200 nations who will come together to compete and their cultures using Maths and numeracy; and Faces of the Summer uses English and literacy to showcase the people who will make the summer great including athletes, their support teams, volunteers, sponsors and organisers.
Championship organisers have already begun engaging with young people by offering all schools in Greater London access to a special package for the World Para Athletics Championships at a discounted rate of £3 per ticket.
In addition to offering discounted tickets and free resources, London 2017 has partnered with BBC children’s television show Blue Peter for a nationwide competition. Young people aged six to 15 years-old are invited to design two championship mascots and the results will be judged by Olympic champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and double Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead MBE.
Starting Blocks has been developed in partnership with educational consultancy EdComs, who are responsible for Get Set, the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association’s youth engagement programme.
Niels de Vos, Championship director for the World Para Athletics Championships and IAAF World Championships London 2017, said: “Following the successful launch of our official schools ticket offer and mascot design competition, Starting Blocks once again demonstrates our commitment to inspire, motivate and engage young people not just in London but around the UK.
“We are proud to be hosting the biggest sporting event in the world in 2017. The Championships will be an inspirational summer of world-class sport with a chance for everyone to take part.
“We want the magic of London 2017 to act as an inspiration for young people and I believe both pupils and teachers will benefit from the exciting and topical resources offered by Starting Blocks.”
