The course highlights that being an athlete is not the only way to participate in the Olympics or Paralympics. There are many different roles essential to the success of the Games.

The programme is aimed at students who are less familiar with higher education, perhaps because they do not know many friends and family who have been to university and can advise on them on what choices to make.

Tim Rudd, Summer School Director, said: “In the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games, we are delighted to receive funding from HEFCE to promote careers in sport. Our aim is to inspire young people and raise their aspirations to study at university.

“It’s a great opportunity for any student who feels university might be beyond their reach, to get a taste of university life and gain more information and first-hand knowledge about today’s sports scene from practising sports professionals”.

Students will sample academic courses in anatomy, sports nutrition, psychology and strength and conditioning. There will be a track and field day with Olympic coaches and athletes at New River Athletics Centre. A full day programme led by Tottenham Hotspur Foundation will concentrate on Disability and Sports. This will follow an Apprentice style format where students will take part in workshops, and develop services or products for disabled athletes.

The Summer School has a strong social dimension, with sports activities, games and music in the evenings. Stephen Law who completed the course in 2009 commented: “I feel that I have really grown as a person since the Leap into Sports summer school.

“It gave me confidence and life experience that I will never forget, as well as new friends. For the first hour or so no-one is talking and it's all quite awkward but by the end of the first day we were all having a great time and pushing each other in the pool!

“Staying on campus in dorm rooms was a great experience and a good chance to get a glimpse as to what university life is like. More than anything it was fantastic to feel like a part of the Olympics. The places we went, people we met and things we learnt really made us all feel excited for 2012 and I believe that it was a great success!”

For more information visit http://www.mdx.ac.uk/ or contact Helen Midhage on 020 8411 5547 or h.midhage@mdx.ac.uk.