Competitor Education Program

The Education Program is an integral part of the Pacific School Games (PSG) experience. This program aims to provide an enjoyable, meaningful and worthwhile educational experience. The 2008 PSG Education Program will provide competitors with the opportunity to learn about sport and Canberra, the nation’s Capital.

The 2008 PSG Education Program will include a wide range of experiences. Not only will competitors have the opportunity to visit some of Canberra’s most recognised national icons, but they will also have the unique opportunity to learn from some of Australia’s leading sports scientists and sport industry professionals.

The 2008 PSG Education Program is made up of four components:

1. All Competitors Education Program - Activities that are available to all 2008 PSG competitors.
2. Younger Competitors Education Program - Activities that are available to younger 2008 PSG competitors.
3. Older Competitors Education Program - Activities that are available to older 2008 PSG Competitors.
4. Sightseeing - Activities that teams can independently organise in addition to the scheduled 2008 PSG Education Program activities.

The age divisions for each activity have been based on each sport’s competition structure and schedule. Age divisions for each sport are as follows:

Education Program Age Divisions
Sport	Younger Competitor Education Program	Older Competitor Education Program
Basketball	12 years & under	18 years & under
Diving	10-14 years	15-19 years
Hockey	12 years & under	16 years & under
Swimming	10-14 years	15-19 years
Track & Field	10-12 years	13-19 years

ALL COMPETITORS EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Australian Institute of Sport & the Sportex Experience

Discover a national icon, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where sporting champions are created and world records are broken, where competitors can learn what it takes to be a sporting hero and discover the champion within.

During the 2008 Pacific School Games, all competitors will have the opportunity to explore the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). The AIS, venue of 3 of the 2008 PSG sports (Swimming, Track & Field and Basketball) is a world-class training facility and home to potential and current sporting champions. Competitors will get the opportunity to see where our champion athletes live and train.

 

Competitors will also have the opportunity to step into a world of fun, excitement and activity as they discover Sportex, the interactive sports experience.  Sportex makes learning about sport fun and gives every competitor the chance to have a go. In this fun, educational and interactive sports exhibition, competitors can try wheelchair basketball, football penalty shootouts, a rowing race, winter sports or rock climbing!

Further information regarding Sportex operating hours and entry procedures will be provided to team officials in the lead up to the Games.

ASADA Pure Performance Athletes Outreach Program

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) will be running their Pure Performance Athlete Outreach Program from Tuesday 2 December – Thursday 4 December as part of the 2008 PSG Education Program.

 

The Outreach program is a fantastic opportunity for athletes and support personnel to learn about anti-doping in a fun and interactive environment. This program will deliver information on testing procedures, potential risks and the consequences of doping.

 

Participants will be encouraged to complete an interactive anti-doping quiz for their chance to win Pure Performance promotional items. In addition to this, there will be an opportunity to meet current and past sporting stars who will be supporting the delivery of the program.

The ASADA Pure Performance Athlete Outreach Program booth will be located at the PSG Hub (between the AIS Sports Visitor Centre and the AIS Swimming Centre) and will be operational from 9:00am-4:00pm, Tuesday 2 December – Thursday 4 December 2008.

For more information on ASADA Pure Performance Athlete Outreach or any other ASADA Education activities, visit the ASADA website www.asada.gov.au or email education@asada.gov.au.

 

YOUNGER COMPETITOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Younger competitors will have the opportunity to explore Questacon, Australia’s leading interactive science and technology centre. With over 200 exhibits, Questacon makes an experience with science and technology fun, educational and interactive. At Questacon, competitors can ride in a full motion rollercoaster simulator, see caged lightning and a tornado, drop 6 metres in Free Fall, as well as watch spectacular science shows.

Excursions to Questacon will be scheduled when teams (and individuals) are not competing. These excursions will take place from Monday 1 December to Friday 5 December 2008. Competitors will have approximately 2 hours to explore Questacon at their leisure.

A comprehensive schedule and explanation of team Questacon excursion will be provided to team officials in the lead up to the Games.

 

OLDER COMPETITOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

AIS & National Hockey Centre Education Programs

In addition to visiting Sportex, older competitors will have the opportunity to attend specialised workshops run by leading sport scientists from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS), elite athletes and other sport industry professionals.

These fascinating, interactive sessions will run for approximately 45 minutes and will cover hot topics such as sports nutrition, skill acquisition, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, career development and general areas related to optimal sporting performance.

A number of sessions will be run daily from Monday 1 December to Friday 5 December 2008. These will be conducted in the Frank Stewart Sports Training Facility (STF) Theatrette at the AIS and in the Carter/Brown Room at the National Hockey Centre.

When competitors are not demonstrating their sporting prowess on the track, field, court or in the pool, they will have the opportunity to attend the workshops and seminars that they are interested in.

A comprehensive schedule and explanation of all workshops will be provided to team officials in the lead up to the Games.

Defence Force Recruiting Development Program

Older competitors may also have the opportunity to participate in a career development visit to the Royal Military College and the Australian Defence Force Academy run by Defence Force Recruiting. This visit will involve:

• A tour of the Royal Military College (RMC) and the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).
• A presentation on careers in the Defence Forces.
• An opportunity to engage in a firing practice on the Weapons Training Simulation System (WTSS)*

*There will be no live ammunition on the WTSS range.  Competitors will receive one-on-one instruction and will be under full supervision on the WTSS.

A comprehensive schedule and explanation of the Defence Force Recruiting Development Program will be provided to team officials in the lead up to the Games.

SIGHTSEEING

Teams will also have the opportunity to explore some of the national institutions based in Canberra at their leisure. The National Library, War Memorial, National Museum, Parliament House and the High Court are all distinctive features on the Canberra landscape. Visiting these recognised national icons will give Australian and International competitors an insight into our national heritage.

All competitors and team officials will receive a 2008 Canberra Holiday Planner in their 2008 PSG Welcome Pack. This publication contains information on tourist attractions, shopping, dining and more.

For additional information on Canberra’s tourist attractions, please visit www.visitcanberra.com.au.