SOUTH AFRICANS AT THE POWERADE SPORTS ACADEMY LEARN THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND SPORT FROM NBA STAR, JOHN AMEACHI – AND THEN IT WAS ONTO THE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL FIELDS!

The athletes at the Powerade Sports Academy spent part of Day 3 in the lecture hall learning the psychology behind being an Olympian.

Powerade, the Official Sports Drink of the London 2012 Olympic Games, is giving sports fans from around the world insight into how to ‘Train Like An Olympian’ at the Powerade Sport Academy.  The opportunity is part of the Powerade drive to give amateur athletes, who live and breathe sport every day, an opportunity to improve their own performance.

For financial accounting lecturer at Unisa in Tshwane, Frank Montgomery, it was a different experience as he was a student for a change.  “Today was of particular interest to me,” said the 44 year old lecturer.  “When I looked through our programme before I left South Africa it was the psychology behind how to cope with the trials and tribulations of becoming an Olympian that intrigued me and the lecture by John Ameachi did not disappoint me.”

“Not only did he give us insight on how Olympians focus, but he was inspirational and motivating for us amateurs.  It was fascinating to listen to his journey to the big league and the message that he delivered to us all was that you should always believe in yourself.  I will refer to this great man in all my lectures back home,” said Montgomery.

It was then onto the football field where they learnt some training techniques that are specifically relevant to the game.  “Powerade Team SA got onto the pitch and showed some silky skills – sadly no scouts were there to notice us, but that will be their loss,” laughed Montgomery.

After football came basketball, a sport none of the South Africans had ever had insight into.  “We had such fun ‘shooting some hoop’.  There is much more technique to this game than I ever imagined - our constant fumbling of the ball was proof of this.  Being in education I believe this game should be promoted at a young age to teach kids ball skills and coordination,” said Montgomery.

Day 4 will include a trip to the Olympics where the amateur athletes from around the world will be looking at the Olympians in a different light, which will give a much needed rest for all the aching muscles.

Powerade on the field of play and at the Olympic Athletes’ Village

As Official Sports Drink of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Powerade will be front and center at London 2012, hydrating more than 10,000 athletes across 26 sports on the field of play both in training and game venues. In addition to providing product on the field of play, the ‘Powerade Hydration Center’ inside the Globe at the Olympic Athletes’ Village will allow athletes to customize their own Powerade Sports Bottles, order the Powerade PRO Sports Hydration powder and get hydration tips to help them perform.