The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games coming to London in 2012 offers the opportunity for the University to engage with the many themes connected with the Games, which go way beyond the ideal that it is simply an elite sporting event for a few weeks in the Summer of 2012.
The London Organising Committee (LOCOG) has committed to reach out across the country and afford each region the chance to get involved with promotions and initiatives to help inspire people to become active and engaged with sport, to be part of the 2012 Volunteering programme, to develop wider cultural programmes, and to help support tourism and business opportunities leading up to and during the Games.
Podium is the FE and HE Unit for the Games and showcases and supports initiatives within the colleges and universities. A small number of institutions have developed programmes on both the academic side and also the general participation and volunteering side; there is an opportunity for applications to gain the national ‘Inspire Mark’ and use the associated logo and publicity.
The University have recently established a 2012 Task Force, led by the Director of Sport, Mike Chamberlain and sponsored at Executive level by Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ian Oakes; this group will seek to harness, support and develop interest across the many schools and departments within the university and provide regional and national updates.
There will shortly be a university plan which will identify the various areas of engagement and the projects that will develop over the next two years.
