INVITATION TO ATTEND FREE UEL SPORTS SCIENCE WORKSHOPS

A unique event being staged by the University of East London will give people with an interest in sport and next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games the chance to meet London 2012 hopefuls and learn more about cutting-edge sports science.

Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls currently studying at UEL will be available to provide first-hand information at the event to those who regularly undertake, or have an interest in, sporting activity.
The free event will provide general information about the increasing importance of a more scientific approach towards sport, while visitors will also have the chance to take part in a number of interactive workshops which will assess their fitness, nutrition and strength and conditioning.

There will also be presentations from young athletes in-line for a place in Team GB at next Summer’s Games, and also the chance for local sports enthusiasts to network in a convivial setting.
In addition visitors will have the opportunity to view UEL’s state-of-the-art fitness and health, sport and exercise science, sports development and sports coaching facilities.

Event organiser, Dr Marcia Wilson, Sports Science Leader and Principal Lecturer at the University of East London, said: “The entire nature of sporting participation has undergone a huge shift in terms of scientific awareness over the last 15-20 years.
“This has had a tremendous impact on all aspects of sport, from the way people prepare to the development of new roles within sport which did not exist before.
“The basics such as warming-up and appropriate training methods have been revolutionised by new, sophisticated approaches to sporting activity, including knowing what to eat, how to train and when to rest to achieve optimal sporting performance. The rapid interest and now common-day employment of sports psychology is another excellent example of this trend.

Maggie McLinden, UEL Further Education and Schools Partnership Manager, said: “UEL aims to be London’s top university for sport within the next four years. Knowing Sport will harness the knowledge and experiences of UEL’s sports faculty and its’ London 2012 hopefuls in order to provide first-hand guidance, advice and information about all aspects of sport participation, be it on the track, field or behind the scenes.”

Knowing Sport is free to members of the public to attend, and takes place at UEL’s Stratford Campus in Water Lane on Thursday February 3, between 4-6pm.

To book a place at the Knowing Sport event please email partnerships@uel.ac.uk  with your name and contact details.

For directions, please visit the UEL website here: http://www.uel.ac.uk/about/findus.htm

The University of East London was selected to be part of the public engagement programme linked to the International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport (ICSEMIS 2012). ICSEMIS 2012 which will bring together the worlds leading scientists, academics and researchers in disciplines related to sport in advance of the 2012 Games. The  pilot programme, being run by Research Councils UK and Podium, aims to engage the public with science, reasearch and the academic desciplines related to sport using the excitement and interest generated by the Games.