Research reports on Universities & the Olympics
Following the ‘Universities Week’ campaign in the UK, taking place between April 30 and May 7, 2012, a new research port launched by BUCS reveals that more than 90 per cent* of the UK’s universities are engaged with London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with 65 per cent expecting to gain long-term benefits from their involvement.
The report, Olympic and Paralympic Games: The impact of universities, demonstrates the diverse contribution that universities are making to the 2012 Games, the overall impact on the UK sports industry and the work institutions and academics are doing around the Cultural Olympiad and 2012 legacy programme.
Within the report, findings show that nearly two thirds of the institutions engaged with London 2012 believe they will benefit from a tangible legacy as a result of the Games. The activity in which most institutions were involved was volunteering, with 39 per cent of institutions involved in this type of activity, closely followed by 36 per cent of institutions involved in sports activities.
The findings go on to show a significant correlation between institutions’ involvement in Games projects and expectations of financial legacies. Overall, the findings show that historically, there has been extensive involvement by universities in the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said: “Quite apart from sports training and development, universities have made an extensive contribution to sports-led research. In London 2012, we see this from the dedication of the university volunteers who are part of the London 2012 Games Makers programme helping behind the scenes and the central involvement of universities in the lead Cultural Olympiad projects.”
High profile ambassadors and London 2012 hopefuls alike have lent their support to the campaign, including Seb Coe, Dame Kelly Holmes, Tony Blair, Beth Tweddle, Perri Shakes-Drayton and Scott Moorhouse. Interviews with some of the campaign’s ambassadors highlight how universities benefit everyone, whether or not they have been to university themselves. Hear what the ambassadors have to say at www.youtube.com/universitiesweek2012.
A second research report published by BUCS, Supporting a UK success story: The impact of university research and sport development, shows the importance of university research and development in the context of UK sport and the Olympics.
From the science behind athlete hydration to the regeneration of East London, home to the Olympic Park, the report takes a journey through the research and sports development that sits behind the lasting impact of London 2012 on the UK. Throughout the report, issues of endurance sit side by side with examples of urban regeneration and the history of sports medicine to demonstrate the diverse ways in which the whole of UK society benefits from the work of universities supporting the sports industry and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
An important aspect of London 2012 is the legacy it will leave behind. The report features examples of how sports development initiatives within UK universities are encouraging greater participation in sport. The report takes an in-depth look at how science and research in the areas of technology, health and wellbeing, design, sport development and participation and the past and present and future of the Games, have contributed to London 2012 and to the UK sports industry.
Download report 'Olympics and Paralympic Games: The Impact of universities'*
For more information about the Universities Week, please see www.universitiesweek.org.uk.