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SPORT
AND EDUCATION TEAM UP
10th
February 2004 – Enthusiastic young people at St Bernard’s Primary School,
Newtownabbey, were today the proud hosts for the Northern Ireland launch of the
European Year of Education through Sport (EYES).
Designated by the European Commission, 2004 will provide great
opportunities for the EU, individual nation states, regions and individuals to
promote learning through sport.
Enjoying
sport demonstrations at the Belfast school, Permanent Secretary for the
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Dr Aideen McGinley explained the
background to “EYES”. “The
European Soccer Championships in Portugal and the Athens Olympic and Paralympic
Games will make Europe the focus of the sporting world in 2004.
These provide a perfect background to disseminate and explain sporting
values to millions of young people.”
Explaining
many of the objectives, Dr McGinley continued, “In addition to improving
health, it is believed that a young person’s educational, cultural and social
needs can benefit from participation in sport. I am therefore delighted to
announce that the European Parliament and Commission have committed significant
funding to the development of specific projects with over €600,000 being made
available for UK-based activities.”
In addition
to funded projects, the EYES website www.eyes2004.org
will encourage young people to take part in and learn through physical activity.
Chairman of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, Professor Eric Saunders OBE
continued, “Projects will involve young people, professionals, schools, other
institutions and sporting organisations. It is hoped that this initiative will
provide platforms upon which educational and sports organisations will
co-operate and share the values conveyed by sport to increase knowledge and
skills. Through sport, young people can develop social capabilities such as
teamwork, solidarity, tolerance and fair play in a multi-cultural context.”
[Click
to Enlarge]
Principal of
St Bernard’s Primary School, Mr Joe McNamee also praised the EYES website as a
tool for any school or organisation in Europe to learn, compare and discuss
their sporting practices. “It is
vital for schools to share good practice and we will be able to challenge
schools across the UK in “virtual” sports days. Young people enjoy all kinds
of sport and it is a terrific vehicle to help them embrace learning, whilst
having fun.”
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