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Knowing Sport, Knowing You

Thursday 10 February 2011

Knowing Sport Participants

Visitors to a recent UEL sports science workshop gave the event top marks.

The 'Knowing Sport' event attracted local amateur sportsmen and women, aspiring students and those with an interest in next year's London Olympics and Paralympics, where they were able to take part in a number of interactive workshops on nutrition, fitness, and strength & conditioning.

Members of the Team GB basketball team were also on hand to advise on combining a career in sport with academic studies. The four players, who are all UEL sports science students and play professionally for the Essex Pirates, are hopeful of being involved in next year's Olympic games.

Pirate player and UEL student Zach Gachette said: "Obviously it's going to be tough, but we are all training hard. If we don't make it next year, then I'd definitely be looking to be involved in Rio in 2016."

Team-mate and fellow student, Jamal Anderson, also spoke about the importance of continuing in education. "Anything can happen in sport. You can pick up an injury that can have permanent effect on your career. Doing the degree is interesting, but it's also an important fall back."

Local sports science sixth-form student Danny Pena, 17, (pictured above taking part in reflex monitoring exercises) said: "Coming along to the event has really helped. In class we learn about nutrition and fitness, but to actually take part in the workshops and see it first-hand has been a great experience."

Event organiser, Dr Marcia Wilson, Sports Science Leader and Principal Lecturer at the University of East London, said: "The entire nature of sporting participation has undergone a huge shift in terms of scientific awareness over the last 15-20 years.

This has had a tremendous impact on all aspects of sport, from the way people prepare to the development of new roles within sport which did not exist before. The basics such as warming-up and appropriate training methods have been revolutionised by  new, sophisticated approaches to sporting activity, including knowing what to eat, how to train and when to rest to achieve optimal sporting performance. The rapid interest and now common-day employment of sports psychology is another excellent example of this trend."

The event also allowed visitors a glimpse of UEL's state-of-the-art fitness and health, sport and exercise science, sports development and sports coaching facilities, which will soon be complemented by a £20 million sports-centre due to open at the University's Docklands Campus early next year. 'SportsDock', which will be the US Olympic permanent base during the 2012 Games, will be open to members of the public as well as students, and membership packages will be available from November. Anyone wishing to express an early interest in taking out a membership plan should email their name and contact details to SportsDock@uel.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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