The Olympic Federation of Ireland’s Dare to Believe schools program, with the support of Allianz, is teaming up with PEXpo for the second year in a row to celebrate the 11th edition of the Dare to Believe PEXpo. This event will take place on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at the National Indoor Arena, located at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin.
The event will feature leading Olympic and Paralympic athletes, who will share their experiences and motivate young people to explore the world of sport and its benefits.
KELLIE HARRINGTON
The keynote speaker will be Kellie Harrington, two-time Olympic champion and Dare to Believe ambassador. Harrington will deliver an inspirational speech on resilience, dedication and focus, leaving an impression on attendees with her motivational words.
In addition, Dare to Believe ambassadors, Olympic medalist Philip Doyle and Paralympic medalist Orla Comerford, will participate in a panel discussion moderated by presenter, author and teacher Emer O’Neill. During this conversation, they will explore the importance of helping teens find the right sport for them, in line with the ‘Stop the Drop’ theme, part of Allianz’s campaign to address the decline in teen sports participation.
PROJECTS ON SCIENCE AND SPORT
The event, developed in partnership with the Physical Education Association of Ireland, is modeled on the Young Scientist Exhibition. Transition Year students from across the country have submitted more than 200 projects highlighting their understanding of the science behind sport and its health benefits.
The projects cover a variety of topics related to sporting activities and healthy lifestyles, and winners will be announced during the event.
OLYMPIC SPORTS AND CAREERS IN SPORT
With the support of more than twenty National Federations who will have booths at the event, more than 1,500 students will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of Olympic sports. This approach aims to help young people discover the sport that best suits them and encourage their participation.
In addition, the event will feature a Careers Corner, facilitated by Rob Hartnett of Sport for Business. In this space, experts such as Bryan Keane (Olympian and Olympic photographer), Robbie Smyth (Team Ireland physiotherapist) and Sowmia Sundaresan (sports researcher) will present various career options in elite sport.
