Universities Week 2012 (30 April – 7 May), one of the flagship annual events for the higher education sector, will this year celebrate the integral role of universities in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the sports industry in the UK more generally. It could provide an excellent platform to get your university and fellow students geared up for the Games, with a chance to watch a test event at the Olympic Stadium or even commentate at the Olympic stadium yourself!
The week will look at how universities have in the past, and are currently, helping prepare for the Olympics – through training top athletes, to providing facilities for students and local communities, as well as housing international teams on campus during the Olympics themselves.
Importantly for you, the week could also provide an opportunity for you and your fellow students to get a first glimpse at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London. Universities Week will culminate in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) outdoor athletics championships, and a test event for the 2012 Games that will take place in the Olympics Stadium on Saturday 5th May. There will be a window of opportunity for students around the UK to book tickets to attend this event, so those who missed out on Olympic tickets, can still get a chance to take part in one of the most exciting events of the year.
The Universities Week organisers are looking for universities and students to hold events to coincide with the week, and to provide case studies of what work their university is doing to relation to sport and Olympics, and to think about getting in touch with past sporting alumni who may want to support the week. If you’re interested, why not speak to the press and marketing team on campus to see what plans they’ve got in mind for the week? You could also speak to your student union officers about holding an event at your student union to mark the week and promote your university’s 2012 credentials or about getting a past sporting student to come and speak on campus.
During the week, they will also be running a ‘Be a Commentator’ competition in conjunction with the NUS to give one lucky student the chance to commentate at a test event at the Olympic Park alongside renowned commentator, John Inverdale. More details will be available soon on how you can apply for this fantastic opportunity.
If you’re interested in getting involved, there’s lots of information on the Universities Week website http://www.universitiesweek.org.uk/getinvolved or contact the various teams at your university to see what events you might be able to put on together during the week or even just to find out what they’ve got planned. You can also contact the Universities Week team if you have any questions, please email info@universitiesweek.org.uk or telephone 0207 419 5483.