Fostering Media Literacy and Athlete Empowerment through OLYMPic values

ongoing

OLYMP is a response to the growing demand for new approaches to enhancing media literacy to increase citizens` resilience against disinformation. Among OLYMP’s objectives are promoting reading to athletes, while building civic engagement and their resilience to disinformation; strengthening the important role of media professionals in the field of sport and librarians in developing athletes` media literacy; strengthening the democratic participation of young athletes by providing them with opportunities for meaningful engagement in political life. OLYMP addresses the general objective of the call –promote citizens’ and representative associations’ participation in and contribution to the democratic and civic life of the Union. Activities: Reading will be promoted through development and delivery of innovative cross-sectoral curriculum in specially designed book clubs in 4 EU Member States, where sports related books and texts will be discussed. Topics relevant for building media literacy, active citizenship, human rights, and democracy will be explored there. Media professionals in sports organizations will act as facilitators by moderating debates that enhance ability of athletes to form and express own opinion and arguments and respect positions of others. Project events focus on training activities, raising awareness and understanding of the common EU values, same as sport values and of principles of unity and diversity. More than 440 elite and 600 grassroots athletes, as well as 200 stakeholders in the field of sports are expected to take part in 12 in-situ and online project events. Expected results: Enhanced reading engagement, performance and reading enjoyment among athletes; Enhanced media literacy, use of the Internet and social media; Resistance to discrimination and indoctrination; Developed capacity to engage in productive debates and voicing concerns; Increased awareness of athletes’ rights and strengthened democratic participation.