Road to Olympus Display for European Athletics – UNESCO Young Leaders Forum Z ü rych 2014 Katarzyna Wita, Poland

An athletics-related issue or idea that is of particular interest to me ● the most important issue of modern athletics in Poland- training of children and promoting sport among the youngest

Expected of Polish society Tomasz Majewski Irena Szewińska Robert Korzeniowski ● bag of medals and national anthem on every championships ● how to achieve this goal?

The youngest! ● In order to win the medals you need to invest in youth * instill in them spirit of sportsmanships, * motivation to work hard, * cheer! ● The realization these points need to start very early – when the child is the youngest and the first time meets the sport in professional way

A physical education teacher ● A PE teacher is the first person for the child, who might notice talent, he can help choose the right discipline of sport. ● On the second stage appear a professional trainer. ● The lessons of physical education in Poland are not functioning well

Problems of PE lessons in Poland ● many false sick notes for PE ● students are discouraged when they comes to PE and they must to run 800/1000m without preparation- not every child is able to run so much ● we can`t discourage the youngest!

Parents ● Parents who are in favour of the false sick leaves for their children are the same people who later sit in front of the TV, watching The Olympic Games or Championships, and ask yourselves the question- why we haven't got more athletes? ● They want effect but they forget that they also need to putting 'brick in the wall' to achieve this goal!

How to make up for lack of enthusiasm and willingness among children? ● lessons should focus on teaching techniques ● there are private initiatives of teachers or trainers which encourages younger children to athletics ● through play, teaching rules and technique of competition- children will be encouraged by showing him results of his work ● children who feel the spirit of competition want to train themselves

Media ● the media doesn`t promote athletics ● you can find little broadcast of the Polish Senior Championships, but there is not transmission of Polish Junior Championships- juniors are now completely forgotten ● ● organizers should invest in marketing activities to promote the events and attract viewers

How to attract the viewers? Part 1 ● for people who are interested in athletics- it is interesting, but for other people perhaps it is boring, because they do not know rules ● my own experiment – for people athletics is difficult to watch it! ● The organizer wrong planed competition, because some competition take place at the same time and I don`t know what to look for – thats one of the reasons for few viewers on the stadium- people prefer stay home and watch it on TV- broadcaster choose one competition and show it. These people also need to learn about athletics!

How to attract the viewers? Part 2 ● we need to introduce learn about rules in athletics on PE lessons- then young people know what to look for, HOW to look for- they more likely come to the stadium to cheer athletes ● my thesis – when people know the rules they come to the stadium and cheer athletes ● I decided to test my theory during PZLA 68. Polish Junior Championships ● I invited to volunteer a group of children between years old

Challenge! ● a few days before the event I invited my young volunteers to the stadium, I explained them some rules, asked questions ● terrible results! They do not know any basic rules- for example they were surprised by a ditch with water ● no wonder they do not come to the competition ● during the event- if I just had time I spend it with them and explained various rules of competition- they quickly became interested ● Result- they don`t come to the events because they don`t know what is athletics

We must working hard with the children! ● we have to do a lot of work with kids ● children must know about the rules, about perseverance and obviously- THEY MUST HAVE FUN! ● Otherwise Poland will not have next Anita Włodarczyk or Szymon Ziółkowski

We must remeber! ● running is the cheapest form of the sport ● kids don`t need anything to start training run ● only desire and motivation ● lack of financial resources or infrastructure is not a excuse

The Olympus ● Road to Olympus should start at the first class of primary school on PE ● most of sports organizations should support teachers in schools ● it is free of costs- first of all we should change way of education on PE lessons- only willingness is necessary, not money