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UEL and Paralympics Ireland sign London 2012 partnership to help kickstart Universities Week

Monday 30 April 2012

Paralympics Ireland

The University of East London today (Monday, 30 April 2012) marked the opening of Universities Week by welcoming Paralympics Ireland to its growing family of London 2012 partners.

This year’s Universities Week campaign, which runs between Monday, 30 April and Monday, 7 May, is looking at the diverse contribution that universities are making to the 2012 Games, the overall impact on the UK sports industry and the work that institutions and academics are doing around the Cultural Olympiad and 2012 legacy programme.

Paralympics Ireland will use UEL’s Duncan House Campus in Stratford as the venue for its Team Ireland Lodge during the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Duncan House will act as the team base outside the official Paralympic venues, and as a venue for athletes to meet and relax with fellow team members and their families and friends.

The launch was attended by a number of guests including the 2012 Irish Team Chef de Mission, Liam Harbison, Performance Director, Nancy Chillingworth, UEL Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick McGhee, Discus World Champion, Catherine O’Neill and young people from UEL’s partner schools.

Speaking to a special reception in SportsDock, UEL Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick McGhee, said: “This is yet another important milestone in our journey to become the number one university for sport in London by 2015. We’re thrilled to welcome Paralympics Ireland to our growing family of London 2012 partners. Duncan House is situated right in the middle of the Olympic community, and will prove to be an ideal hospitality venue for Irish athletes and supporters alike. On a personal level, I’d like to say a big thank you to Catherine O Neill for sharing her experiences of competing in two Paralympic Games; she really is an inspiration to us all.”

Irish Team Chef de Mission, Liam Harbison, said: “With a huge number of supporters set to travel to London to support the Irish Team of 42 athletes, the importance of having a lodge facility is essential close to Olympic Park to allow access of families and friends to athletes on a controlled basis that protects athlete performance at the Games. After a lengthy search, we have settled on Duncan House as the suitable venue.”

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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