24th September 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A new qualification for athletes has been designed, based around the International Baccalaureate. The initiative has come after athletes spoke out during the Olympics, saying that they do not have the academic qualifications they require for life after a career in sports. Sprinter Frank Fredricks was reported to have said “You can only ride for so long on your medals. Athletes can find it very hard to integrate after sports careers”.
The new qualification is designed to be flexible so that it can be studied around the daily training that is required of athletes. It forms part of the legacy of the Olympics, and was developed through a partnership between the IB and the World Academy of Sport. The programme will offer a range of subjects administered by the IB, monitored by the World Academy of Sport which specialises in delivering educational programmes to athletes who may not otherwise have the chance to develop their education.
The qualification was launched at the Olympic park this week.