UEL welcomes Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu MBE
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Published
21 March 2024
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The University of East London is delighted to announce that Olympic, World and Commonwealth 400m Champion Christine Ohuruogu MBE has been appointed as a ‘Visiting Ambassador’ to the University for 2024.
Christine, who was born, raised and still lives in the University’s home borough of Newham, was awarded an honorary doctorate in the arts by the University in 2009. Christine will support the University across a number of its sports, education and literacy programmes during this Olympic year.
After retiring from athletics in 2017, Christine is committed to providing support to the University’s learning community. She will attend and advocate for a range of its work in high performance sport and active health, primary school engagement and wider early years focus, careers and life skills development.
In particular, Christine looks forward to her involvement in the University’s ‘Sport In Your Futures’ programme, which provides aspirational opportunities for under-served local primary pupils to try out new activities and attend quality live sporting fixtures; and to delivering a university book club, aimed at enhancing people’s literacy skills and enjoyment of literature. The programme is run by East London Sport, the sports arm of the University.
Hilary Lissenden, Assistant Chief Operating Officer at East London Sport, said,
We first met Christine when – with her medals! – she spoke to over 150 local primary school children at our ‘Sport In Your Futures’ event at SportsDock last year.
“She was wonderful with the children, and we were delighted when she expressed an interest in developing a more strategic, exclusive relationship with our institution.
“Christine will attend and support a number of events across UEL as well as representing us in our local communities over the coming months. I’m sure her huge achievements both on and off the track will act as an inspiration to all of our sports scholars, athletes, students and local school children as we build up to the Paris Olympics later this year and beyond.”
Christine Ohuruogu, Olympic 400m Gold medallist, double World Champion and winner of 27 major athletics medals, recently launched her own book club, 'Track Changes' to coincide with World Book Day 2024. She said of the new partnership with UEL, “ The University of East London holds a very close place in my heart having been awarded an honorary doctorate in 2009 and going on to work with them in a variety of capacities over recent years. I am really happy to be able to formalise a partnership with the university and I very much look forward to an exciting year ahead.”
Further details of the events and launches that Christine will be supporting at the University of East London and East London Sport will be announced in due course.
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