About the project

The Road To Olympics (RTO) project aims at providing advanced cognitive and mental training to European high-level athletes and to a number of Ukrainian athletes based on the methodology developed by the International Center Sports Mental Coaching combined with the Neurotracker cognitive training tool. The proven benefits of cognitive training and the unfortunate situation that Ukrainian sports professionals are facing, inspired the International Center and the project partners to collaborate for making this innovative methodology available to those athletes who due to the conflict are facing a worsening in their performance. At the same time, cognitive training will be made available not oly for Ukrainian athletes but also for all those high-level atheletes and coaches from all Europe who feel the need to boost their cognitive skills in their pre-Olympic preparation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR METHODOLOGY

Athletes and coaches will be hosted by the project partners’ facilities on the occasion of the two training weeks where they will be involved – first in Spain, then in Greece – in training sessions. The project outcomes will be scientifically evaluated. Lastly, a collection of guidelines on cognitive and mental training will be elaborated to give a Europe-wide resonance to the importance of cognitive and mental training. The involvement of Ukrainian athletes and coaches will be ensured by the presence within the project Consortium of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. In a spirit of inclusion and aggregation, the project’s scope is to extend this methodology to all high-level sports professionals in Europe, in preparation to the Olympics or other matches.

Partnership

International Center Sports
Mental Coaching

Project Management and Coordination.

National Olympic Committee of Ukraine

Analysis of training needs and adaptation of the methodology on athletes and coaches,
(especially Ukrainians).

Olympiacos SFP

Implementation of the mental training methodology to athletes and coaches.

Technological University of Shannon

Evaluation and scientific assessment of the training methodology for the creation of common guidelines.

Kinetic Analysis

Quality Plan coordination and assistance in the implementation of the trainings.

European Platform for
Sport Innovation

Dissemination and promotion of the objectives and results of the project, as well as engaging relevant stakeholders.

Project Actions

1. Methodology development

Analysis of training needs of atletes and coaches by a field reserach. The methodology developed initially by the International Center through the Neurotracker technology will be adapted on athletes and coaches specific needs to improve their day-to-day concentration, enhance their cognitive skills, or perfect their decision-making skills at critical moments.

2. Training sessions

The methodology adapted to athletes’ training needs will be introduced to selected athletes and coaches (Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian) during a first one-week training session. They will learn about Neurotracker and its mental training benefits. Baseline scores will be created for each athlete. The athletes and coaches will follow their specific and personalized training plans for 7 months. After this period, they will be able to introduce standing sessions and incorporate dual tasks. Finally, they will be tested during the second one-week training session.

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3. Evaluation and guidelines creation

The training protocol will be elaborated in line with evidence-based peer-reviewed methodology. Based on the findings reported, guidelines on cognitive training for Olympic athletes and coaches will be developed. Robust, standardized methods will be executed to ensure reproducibility of the protocol for other pre-Olympic athletes and coaches.