UEL launches London 2012 ten year Olympic legacy celebrations

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Published

28 February 2022

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The University of East London (UEL) and East London Sport announced its plans today for a '150 day' countdown to a series of celebrations and events aimed at commemorating the tenth anniversary of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games and the important part the University played in them.

UEL will use the celebrations to re-iterate and catalyse - through its Global Sports Strategy - a commitment to the talent pathway, inclusivity, legacy, well-being and community benefits of sport and physical activity that the London Olympics and Paralympics helped inspire.

The London 2012 Games were held from 27 July to 17 August 2012, with UEL playing an integral role. The Docklands campus including SportsDock, its elite and community sport complex, provided the residential services and training facilities for the 2012 Team USA squad that included 200m gold medallist Allyson Felix and basketball legend LeBron James.

The UEL campus also hosted the Team GB medical team who played such a vital role in ensuring that British athletes performed at their optimum levels during the Games, which included UEL alumna Gemma Gibbons who won a judo silver medal in the 70kg category.

UEL also holds the archive on behalf of the British Olympic Association covering the London Olympics of 1908, 1948 and 2012.

UEL's pro vice chancellor (education & experience) and chief operating officer, Dr Ian Pickup, said "We're really looking forward to celebrating what was for so many people an iconic Olympic and Paralympic Games, whilst also redoubling our efforts to harness the power of sport to improve lives and reduce inequality.

"The spirit and legacy of the London 2012 Games is very much reflected in the themes of our Global Sports Strategy, which are centred on health gain, inclusive talent, healthy spaces and places, sport transforming lives and communities, and supporting and improving the mental wealth of the community.

"The 2012 Olympic Games had a huge impact at the University of East London not only through the thousands of students and staff locally who supported the events at the Olympic Park and other local venues, but through hosting Team USA and the Team GB medical teams.

"Team USA very generously donated all of their training equipment to our SportsDock facility, and we estimate that over 35,000 students and people from the local community have used it over the past ten years. We are currently planning an upgrade programme and as part of this are aiming to donate some of the items to the local community and schools, which will ensure that the legacy of the Games will continue across Newham and it has continued through the launch of the East London Phoenix and inclusive talent pathway activities.

"We are also enormously proud of UEL alumna and Olympic silver medallist Gemma Gibbons, and we're hoping that Gemma and other Team GB icons will come back to campus and meet local children and members of the community over the next few months to help inspire the next generation."

Further details of the University of East of London's 2012 Olympic  and Paralympic celebrations, events and legacy will be announced in due course via social media and via the UEL website.

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