A new report launched today featuring the University of Stirling highlights UK universities contribution towards the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Today sees the start of Universities Week 2012, which runs from 30 April to 7 May, this year taking an in-depth look at the contribution our universities make – and have always made – to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the sports industry and society as a whole.
Stirling is designated by the Scottish Government as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, rated first in Scotland for its sport research and for its sport facilities and services.
The report, Olympic and Paralympic Games: The impact of universities, details Stirling’s involvement in the UK Sport IDEALS programme, which sees sport and media students deliver a wide range of activities to young Zambians in the capital city Lusaka.
It also reveals that more than 90 percent* of the UK’s higher education sector is engaged with London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with 65 percent expecting to gain legacy benefits form their involvement.
Stirling’s excellent sports facilities provides an important training base for developing athletes, including Boccia player Scott McCowan, a Psychology and Sports Studies student at Stirling recently selected for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Further sporting successes saw students from the University’s International Sports Scholarship Programme sweep the board at the British Universities Tennis Championships and take all individual and team prizes in golf competitions.
Nick Rosenzweig won the individual tennis final, while his Stirling team-mates Rihards Emulins and Joe Gill took the Championship Doubles title and in golf, Jack McDonald won the strokeplay prize. This Wednesday (2 May), the men’s scholarship footballers will line up against the University of Bath in London for the British Universities Championship Final.
Throughout the week, Stirling will highlight its involvement and support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games through a number of events, including an Olympic-themed sports day for more than 350 primary school pupils.
Jennifer Tattersall, Sports Participation Officer, said: “The pupils, all from Bridge of Allan Primary School, will be taking part in either Team Wenlock or Team Mandeville, named after the official London 2012 mascots. It’s a great opportunity for the pupils to enjoy different sporting activities and celebrate the fact the Olympics are just around the corner.”
On Wednesday, (2 May), a sister-report will be released, Supporting a UK success story: The impact of university research and sport development, which features research by Professor David Lavallee, Head of the School of Sport.
He said: “Universities Week 2012 is an excellent opportunity to showcase some of the fantastic work universities are contributing to the world of sport, which is especially apt with the Games taking place this year.”
Download the report Olympic and Paralympic Games: The impact of universities
* Conducted by SPEAR, Canterbury Christ Church University, March 2012: Podium Stakeholder Research, The Engagement of FE & HE with the London 2012 Games in 2011.
Background information
- The University was designated by the Scottish Government in 2008 as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, rated first in Scotland for sports research (Research Assessment Exercise, 2008 and ranked first in Scotland for our sports facilities and services (The Complete University Guide, 2012).
- Universities Week 2012: a partnership by Universities UK, the representative organisation for the UK’s universities, and BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport), the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK. It is supported by universities across the UK and a wide range of organisations including Podium, the National Union of Students, Research Councils UK, the Universities Marketing Forum, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and many more. Find out more at www.universitiesweek.org.uk or join in with debate on Twitter #UniWeek and #BUCSChamps.