South Holland schools welcome Paralympic athletes to inspire 2,600 children to move more
Over 2,600 children in South Holland will get moving this year thanks to sports clinics led by top athletes, including Paralympians. The initiative aims to tackle inactivity, improve concentration, and foster healthier lifestyles among primary school students.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of children | 2,600 |
| Number of schools | 50 |
| Number of municipalities | 10 |
| Program | Sporthelden op School |
| Notable athlete | Barbara van Bergen (Paralympic wheelchair basketball and sit-ski athlete) |
| Daily challenges | Ball throws, 'The Daily Mile,' walking/cycling to school |
| Follow-up | After 3 months to check progress |
| Province | South Holland |
The province of South Holland plays a key role in promoting sports and physical activity among children by funding and facilitating programs like Sporthelden op School. This initiative aligns with broader public health goals to reduce inactivity and improve well-being in young populations.
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Another 2,600 children become Movement Champions in South Holland!
This year, the province of South Holland aims to get another 2,600 children moving more. To achieve this goal, 50 schools in 10 municipalities in South Holland once again have the chance to host a sports clinic by Sporthelden op School (Sports Heroes at School).
Top athletes such as Barbara van Bergen, who returned from the Paralympic Games in Milan on March 17, are bringing sports into the classroom and inspiring children to move more. In 2025, no fewer than 49 sports heroes got 2,600 children in 10 municipalities active, and this year they will do so again in another 10 new municipalities!
Barbara van Bergen is a Sports Hero at School
Paralympic wheelchair basketball player and sit-ski athlete Barbara van Bergen left a lasting impression at primary school De Achtsprong in Achthuizen, where she hosted a clinic on behalf of Sporthelden op School. The children witnessed firsthand how Barbara, despite her disability, still achieves top performances and how she prepares for major competitions like the Paralympic Games in Milan.
The children looked on in awe as Barbara demonstrated that sports can help overcome setbacks, no matter how big or small. Thanks to the partnership between the province of South Holland and Sporthelden op School, 50 schools in 10 municipalities in South Holland will once again have the chance to welcome a top athlete this year.
Children make movement deals with their sports hero
“It’s fantastic that, together with top athletes through Sporthelden op School, we can get children excited about moving more,” explains Anne Koning, Deputy for Sport and Movement in the province of South Holland, highlighting the importance of the clinics. “This is so valuable because exercising together fosters friendships, fun, and a healthy future.” As Deputy Koning points out, the impact of Sporthelden op School goes beyond the school visit itself.
Under the motto “We’re becoming movement champions,” the sports heroes make movement deals with the children: concrete agreements in which children work with their sports hero to increase their activity levels. Daily challenges include throwing a ball into a basket before school starts, running “The Daily Mile” three times a week, or walking or cycling to school a few times a week. After three months, the sports hero returns to see if the children have succeeded in keeping their movement deal.
Improved concentration, atmosphere, and learning ability
By bringing top athletes into schools, children gain easy and inspiring access to more movement. The sports heroes help promote an active lifestyle at school, which improves concentration, learning ability, and classroom atmosphere. This approach is badly needed: figures show that 1 in 5 children play outside for less than 20 minutes a week, and 500,000 children struggle with overweight, sleep deprivation, and concentration problems. The Netherlands may still be the sitting champion… Sporthelden op School provides inspiration and practical solutions to tackle these challenges and turn children into movement champions.
Want to learn more about Sporthelden op School and the possibilities in your municipality? Visit www.sportheldenopschool.nl(opens in new window).