Olympic Studies and Research Centre
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Olympic Studies and Research Centre
Explore the Olympic legacy through research, education and community engagement
The Olympic Studies and Research Centre (OSRC) at the University of East London brings together researchers, educators, students and community partners to explore how the Olympic Movement and Olympic Games shape sport and society.
The Centre promotes teaching, research and knowledge exchange while advancing the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect. It also provides access to the British Olympic Association Archive, creating opportunities for research, learning and public engagement.
What we do
The OSRC supports interdisciplinary teaching, research and community engagement across sport, exercise, fitness and wellbeing.
Our work includes:
- Supporting Research on the Olympic Movement and Olympic Games
- Integrating Olympic-related content into academic programmes
- Providing Access to the British Olympic Association Archive
- Developing Projects with local, national and international partners to collaboratively solve their challenges using the resource from across the university to ensure needs are met
- Delivering Lectures, workshops and public events
- Creating Opportunities for student learning, placements and community engagement
- Supporting UEL's social impact and sustainability priorities
Research and collaboration
The Centre is hosted within the Centre for Health Equity and Sustainable Societies (CHESS) and works with colleagues and partners across the UK and internationally.
By bringing together expertise from different disciplines, the OSRC supports new research, innovative teaching and community-focused projects.
Our objectives
The Centre aims to:
- Promote teaching and research related to the Olympic Movement and Olympic Games
- Explore the impact and legacy of the Olympics on sport, exercise, fitness and society
- Embed the British Olympic Association Archive in academic and community activities
- Share Olympic knowledge through outreach and public engagement
- Support interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation
- Develop partnerships that create positive social impact
Community engagement
The OSRC works with local communities to promote Olympic history, values and legacy.
Activities include:
- UEL After Dark
- Newham Heritage Month
- Sport in Your Futures
- Educational workshops for learners of all ages
The Centre also works with schools, community groups and partner organisations, using resources from the British Olympic Association Archive to support learning and engagement.
Partnerships and sustainability
The OSRC collaborates with organisations including the British Olympic Association, East London Sport and other Olympic Studies and Research Centres worldwide.
To support long-term impact, the Centre focuses on:
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Digital preservation of archive materials
- Alignment with UEL's strategic priorities
- Local and global partnerships that support research, education and social impact
Get involved
We welcome enquiries from researchers, students, schools, community organisations and external partners.
Contact the Olympic Studies and Research Centre to discuss research collaborations, events, archive access and partnership opportunities.