Games Time Journals produced for the Milano Cortina Games

The UK Sports Institute (UKSI), Team GB, and ParalympicsGB have partnered again to produce a journal for athletes and staff heading to the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina.

Building on the success of the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games Time Journals, this version caters specifically for athletes and staff travelling to the upcoming Winter Games. It is also the first time a journal has been produced for the Winter Games.

As with previous versions, it is designed to provide athletes and staff with invaluable tools to nurture their wellbeing before, during and after what will be one of the most intense and exciting times in their career.

The Games Time Journal will be distributed to athletes during the Team GB and ParalympicsGB Kitting Out process and serves as a companion in their journey towards positive mental health and wellbeing during the Games.

Embracing a playful and organic design, the journal incorporates elements of the different environments in Milan, Cortina and other clusters, encouraging athletes and staff to explore their surroundings and immerse themselves fully in the Games experience.

More than just a notebook, the journal aims to capture the holistic essence of the Games, shifting the focus beyond performance results. With designated spaces for journaling, accompanied by prompts and tips, athletes and staff are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and emotions.

Additionally, the journal offers creative outlets such as drawing, colouring, and various puzzles to engage athletes and staff in moments of relaxation and self-expression.

Head of Mental Health at the UKSI Sam Cumming explained: “We hope that the Games Time Journals are now a regular feature of the toolkit delivered to athletes and staff ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Combining opportunities for journalling, prompts for self-care and puzzles for a little escapism, the aim is to provide something that helps those at the Games capture their experience in the way that works best for them.

“Delivering these journals is a project that we are really proud of at the UKSI, and we hope they will continue to be a useful addition to the kit bag.”

The content has been developed through a collaborative effort, having been led by the UKSI’s Mental Health Team with significant input from the UKSI’s Performance Lifestyle and Sports Psychology Teams, with contributions from Team GB and ParalympicsGB. Former and current Olympic and Paralympic athletes and staff have also contributed their insights, ensuring that the journal resonates deeply with athlete and staff needs.

Two versions have been created – one for the Olympics and one for the Paralympics. Both will share common themes and content, but they will differ in imagery and quotes to reflect the unique characteristics of each event. Additionally, both versions will include specific details on where and how to access mental health support during the Games, which is even more important at a Winter Games given the dispersed nature of the event.

Recognising the diversity of athlete and staff needs, a plain text version of the Paralympic journal will be available for visually impaired athletes, along with digital versions accessible to all participants.

After the success of the Games Time Journals, the UKSI Mental Health Team are developing a more general mental health journal that is aimed at everyone within the high-performance system and can be used at any time.

Sam added: “I’m excited to confirm that we will be taking the lessons learnt from producing the Game Time Journal to develop a general journal for use throughout the Olympic and Paralympic cycle.”

These journals will follow a similar format to the Games Time Journals and will include space for journalling, helpful prompts for reflection and puzzles and colouring pages.