In July 2007, 10 Year 9 students visited Beijing as part of a sports project called ‘Towards the Olympics.’ The aim of this was to promote links between schools from England and China over the next 5 years, a time that will incorporate both the Beijing and London Olympics. It is hoped that the project will develop an international understanding about the impact of sport on young people from different cultures and promote the centrality of sport to a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle. It is envisaged that students will be motivated in England and China to learn a new language and be provided them with an opportunity to participate in shared learning opportunities.
The visit to Beijing was called the ‘Festival of Global Friendship 2007’ and included a range of activities designed to demonstrate and stimulate further cultural understanding, appreciation of the Olympic values, the role of sport in society, language skills, the use of technology and pupil centred learning. Pupils from Prescot School adopted the role of sports coaches and team leaders in teaching to our partner school, Wuluja Middle School, from Beijing the key skills from traditional sports. Teaching Chinese students rounders, cricket and rugby proved to be particularly challenging as our Chinese friends had never seen these sports before. The language barriers were another stumbling block and students realised that demonstration was the most effective coaching tool. After learning traditional Chinese Dance, Martial arts and a strange game involving a rope, the students participated in their very own mini Olympics, which they planned themselves.
In between all the fun, time was found to visit The Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, The Summer Palace and of course the Olympic Village.
The project will continue in 2008 as Prescot School and Wuluja will team up from across the globe to perform in a virtual Olympics! More on this to follow!
