O-LYM-PIC - Football Dreams (ATOM Study Guide)

When filmmaker Janet Merewether sets out to film an ambitious group of ten-year-old underdogs from Sydney Olympic FC on a whirlwind tour, competing against junior football teams from the powerhouses of the Bundesliga and top European clubs such as Manchester United, Ajax and Benfica, little does she expect that she would also be documenting the involvement of (now former) Club President Bill Papas, the ‘colourful football identity’ who made headlines in 2021 for allegedly defrauding Westpac Bank for hundreds of millions of dollars. Who knew? Certainly not the parents.

O-LYM-PIC – Football Dreams features interviews with some of the leading coaches and technical directors in Australia, Germany and the UK. It is essential viewing for all aspiring football players, teachers, coaches and sports fans.

It is a documentary about big dreams, ambition, and integrity in elite sport, and the potential for corruption and inequity in the lucrative world of international professional football. Above all, the film is about the kids’ love of the ‘world game’, and the support they need to succeed.

Curriculum Links:

O-LYM-PIC – Football Dreams is suitable for primary 5/6 as well as secondary students at all year levels, in particular in the context of:

• Health and Physical Education
• Sports Studies
• English
• Media studies

It can also aid in developing the General Capability of Ethical Understanding.

It is a useful supplementary resource to tertiary students in the areas of:

• Sports Science
• Sports Management
• Teaching/Education
• Media Studies
• Film and Digital production