UEL recognised as an Olympic Studies Centre

UEL joins the global Olympic studies network following endorsement from the British Olympic Association. Membership of this worldwide network will provide enhanced national and international opportunities for UEL students and academics.
Olympic studies and research are well established disciplines at UEL, with students studying Olympic-related content across the University including sports and exercise science courses in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience; Sports Journalism delivered by the School of Arts and Creative Industries and Sports Management in the Royal Docks School of Business and Law.

UEL researchers actively examine the impact of the Olympic movement and the Olympic games on sport and society, including Dr Nadia Grubnic who has examined how three East London boroughs (Newham, Hackney, and Barking & Dagenham) politically responded to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Using interviews, observations, and document analysis, the research compared these boroughs across three phases, emphasizing the local impact of the global event, exploring the boroughs' strategies, how they were affected by the Games' governance, and the importance of "place" and "space." Dr. Grubnic disseminates knowledge on this topic through her teaching on the BSc Sport, PE and Development course. 

The UEL Docklands Library is also the home of the British Olympic Association archive collection, documenting the history of Team GB since 1906 and the development of the Olympic movement within the United Kingdom.

Dr Andy Galbraith, Associate Professor in Exercise Physiology said,

East London and the University of East London have a strong connection with the Olympics. This recognition by the International Olympic Committee is a fantastic opportunity for UEL to continue this legacy, fostering enhanced opportunities for Olympic related teaching, community outreach and research".

Krishna Roy-Chowdhury, Associate Director of Content and Digital Environments, Library, Archives and Learning Services, said, "Our goal is to make the British Olympic archive discoverable and accessible through research and community engagement. We welcome researchers to engage with the collection and create more research and educational resources. We want to engage global communities with our Olympic heritage and emphasise how sports have a positive effect on physical and mental health on all age groups".

The recognition of UEL comes as the university celebrates 2025 as its Year of Health, dedicated to tackling health inequalities and ensuring that good health is a right, not a privilege.

Embedded in Newham - a borough facing some of the UK’s most pressing health disparities - UEL is uniquely positioned to make a difference. Through targeted investment and innovative partnerships, UEL is working to create a healthier, fairer future for east London and beyond.