Abhinav Bindra Foundation mobilizes over ten million schoolchildren in Assam and Odisha

The Abhinav Bindra Foundation, through its role as implementor and partner of the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) invited schoolchildren from across Odisha and Assam to integrate meaningful activities into their daily routines during the 'Let's Move' campaign which began on 21 June and culminated in Olympic Day celebrations on 23 June.

Over ten million young people got involved, taking part in physical activities while learning more about the global Olympic Movement and the core values of Olympism - excellence, friendship and respect.

Students had the chance to play sports, watch Olympic films and learn about France's rich history in the context of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

Overcoming challenges

Teams on the ground, alongside teachers, ensured Olympic Day activities were built into the schoolchildren's daily routines, overcoming obstacles such as heatwaves. Flexibility was maintained in both timing and nature of activities in order to safeguard the health of all involved.

This initiative aimed to create a healthier, more active generation and provide a framework for nurturing future champions from these regions. Through mixed-gender team sports, games and fun educational activities, OVEP fosters an inclusive environment, promoting the Olympic values of friendship, respect and excellence, and contributing to a more cohesive and understanding environment.

The large numbers of children who got involved proved to be an enriching experience for Abhinav Bindra, India's first ever individual Olympic gold medallist, the founder of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust.

"I am thrilled to see the great enthusiasm India has shown for the 'Let’s Move' campaign. Our athletes and young participants are connecting wonderfully with the global Olympic Movement," he said.

Bindra, who made history for Indian sport at Beijing 2008, continued: "Sport has the power to unify us all, and through initiatives like this, we are not only promoting physical activity but also fostering a sense of global community. I hope we will continue to grow the Olympic Movement in India, inspiring future generations to achieve excellence and embody the true spirit of Olympism."

Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust: By numbers

The success of integrating Olympic Education into state schools in India continue. So far in 2024, the impact has been widespread:

• OVEP Sessions: Over 200,000 sessions were conducted across 350 schools in Odisha and Assam, with more than 280,000 students participating. Continued participation included 150,000 unique students (59,338 boys and 90,32 girls) over the period. ABFT has scaled OVEP this year in Odisha by training more than 700 teachers, reaching 9000 schools across 30 districts of Odisha in phase 1, with plans to scale throughout the state impacting 7.2 million students this year.
• Student Engagement: Students participated in a large variety of values-based educational activities, celebrating International Mind-Body Wellness Day, National Girl Child Day, Republic Day, and local festivals.
• Curriculum Integration: ABFT worked on integrating Olympism and Olympic Games topics into the curriculum for grades 9 and 10, publishing lessons in Odisha for statewide distribution. The curriculum will be integrated in other grades in a phased manner.
• OVEP Inauguration in Assam: Officially launched on 25 January in Guwahati, impacting over 50,000 students across 100 schools. The event featured high-profile attendees, including the Chief Minister, Sports and Education Ministers, and Mr. Abhinav Bindra.
• Teacher Training: A comprehensive training program for 700 educators to reinforce key concepts from a previous workshop was delivered.
• Community Engagement: Transitioned to community immersion strategies during the examination period, engaging local leaders, parents, and children in Assam and Odisha to maintain the vitality of OVEP's values outside traditional settings.

About the Olympic Values Education Programme

Developed by the IOC and managed by the Olympic Museum, the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) consists of a series of free and easily accessible teaching resources that complement school curricula using the context of Olympic sports and the Fundamental Principles of Olympism. OVEP communicates the long-term benefits of sport and physical activity through an understanding of Olympism and its impact on individual health, enjoyment, and social interaction.