About – Dare To Believe

Our Mission

Sponsored by the International Olympic Committee Solidarity Fund, the Olympic Federation of Ireland schools programme, Dare to Believe aims to inspire the young people of Ireland to ‘Dare to Believe’ in themselves through an interactive curriculum that explores the Olympic Values and includes visits with Team Ireland Olympic and Paralympic role models that bring the values to life.

The programme continues to evolve and expand and now boasts both Core Primary and Post-primary programmes, Olympics School Challenges, Olympians Live! webinars and more!

Launched in 2019, the programme now boasts 31 world class Olympic + Paralympic ambassadors who go into schools all over the country to share their inspirational stories of resilience and teaching students how to set goals and adopt healthy lifestyles through participation in sport.

Resource that cover the Olympic Values of Olympism, Respect & Equality, Healthy Mind & Body, Joy of Effort and Striving for Excellence are available to schools to prepare for the Dare to Believe Ambassador’s visit. All materials are user-friendly, completely free and identify Irish National curriculum strands for teachers.

Key Objectives

Educating students about the importance of having a healthy mind and body.
Improving participation rates of kids in sports across Ireland.
Teaching students that the joy of effort and striving for excellence in sport and other areas in life is something all kids, sporty or not, can experience and learn from.
Helping students to understand the importance of goal-setting and its application to all walks of life, not just sport.

All the content is research based, interactive and combines video and reading material with classroom activities, physical activities and challenges for students.

Summary of Research

Key areas of focus:

Children who identified a sports star role model were 1.7times more likely to meet the national physical activity guidelines than those who didn’t. (source)
Children who identified a sports star role model were 2.9times more likely to play sport in a club or community setting that those who didn’t. (source)
Children who identified a sports star role model were 2.8times more likley to be a member of a sports club than those who didn’t. (source)
Goal setting increases motivation, achievement, ownership (self-efficacy), persistence and creativity.
Exercise has many physical benefits including: cardio fitness, healthy lungs and bones, weight regulation and cancer prevention.
Sports and exercise can boost and improve social connection to school and community, teamwork with fellow students.
The emotional benefits of exercise include, resilience, hormone regulation, decreases aggression.
Lessons from sports are transferable to academics and other pursuits — teamwork, leadership, overcoming failure and obstacles, self-motivation.
Mental benefits of exercise and sport participation include: improved focus, learning, absorption of information and attention control.
Role models are shown to influence levels of physical activity.
Obesity epidemic is high and results in numerous detrimental health and societal consequences.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or want to learn more about the Dare to Believe programme contact us at [email protected]

About Dare to Believe

Our Mission

Dare to Believe Olympic Values Programme

Key Objectives

Summary of Research

Key areas of focus:

Contact Us

Book an Olympic Ambassador Visit