Back from Europe  for his summer vacation, Tapatio soccer idol Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez opened the eighth National School Olympics (Olimpiada Nacional Escolar) this week to the delight of some 9,000 excitable children at the Auditorio Telmex.

The event is taking place in Guadalajara from June 9-14 for primary school children, and June 14-20 for secondary school students.

Competition is divided into eight sporting categories: basketball, athletics, soccer, chess, volleyball, handball, table tennis and badminton.

Hernandez, who could be suited to a career as an inspirational speaker after his soccer days are over, exhorted the students to “dream and dream, and believe anything is possible.” 

The soccer star,  who spent last year on the roster of Spanish giants Real Madrid, said “education, family and sport” had prepared him well for life’s challenges.

Some 14,000 students from all of Mexico’s 32 states will take part in competitions over the next ten days.

Hernandez will only get a brief  rest before teaming up with the Mexican national squad for the 13th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup to be held at 13 venues across the United States and in Toronto July 7-26.