Designed to get children playing and enjoying Olympic sports, the programme promotes health and wellbeing,

 

The partnership will see Samsung and the EOC, the representative organisation for the 49 European National Olympic Committees (NOC’s), introducing sports education programmes into 750 schools and after-school clubs across five European countries.

 

Sports equipment, specially created lesson materials and expert training from past Olympians such as Irish boxing legend, Michael Carruth, will be provided to teachers and coaches. T

 

The programme will be piloted in the five countries this year - Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and UK, after which the EOC aim to roll this out across Europe.

 

Today, at the Stadio della Pallacorda in Rome, the impressive stadium which played host to the 1960 Olympic Games, the programme ambassador, Goran Ivanĭsević, helped young children mark the launch of the programme with a mini-Olympics show.

 

The event showcased a range of Olympic sports which will be actively introduced in the selected schools and after-school clubs from October, encouraging children to take part in a fun and supportive environment.

 

The Olympic sports featured in the programme are athletics (including running, long jump and triple jump), football, basketball, handball, baseball, softball, badminton, tennis, hockey and gymnastics.

 

As a TOP Sponsor of the Olympics since 1997, Samsung is well placed to continue spreading the Olympic message focusing on the pleasure in taking part in sport.

 

Patrick Hickey, president of the EOC, said: “We are delighted to be working with Samsung on this programme.

 

"Both organisations share a common aim which focuses on getting our children fitter and more active, in a fun and enjoyable environment”.