Sport

28 Nov 09

Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell receives a tour of the Iffley Road Sports Complex by Vice Chancellor Andrew Hamilton, Sir Roger Bannister and Rowing Captain Colin Smith.

Oxford University played host to Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell this week so she could see how business, sport and education in the city are capitalising on the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The minister was given a tour of the University’s Iffley Road Sports Complex by Vice-Chancellor Andrew Hamilton, alumnus and former Olympic medallist Sir Roger Bannister and captain of the Oxford 2009 rowing crew, Colin Smith.The running track and all-weather hockey pitch at Iffley Road have been given Olympic training camp status.

The Vice-Chancellor described the planned re-development of the site, the fundraising campaign that will need to enable this and the deep historical relationship the University has with the Olympics.

Following her tour, Andrew Thomas, Head of Sports Development at the University, chaired a round table discussion with the minister and Oxfordshire partners who are working together to ensure the county benefits from the Olympics. As well as the University these included Oxford Brookes University, Oxford United FC and others who are looking to form a Pre-Games Training Camp partnership.

Ms Jowell described how the atmosphere of the Olympic Games will sweep across the country, not just affecting London. She said: ‘The important thing is foresight and planning, I can’t express enough the power and presence that it will bring. One of the benefits of the Olympics is inspiring a generation of young people and that’s where everyone here comes in. I hope you can maintain the momentum that you have so successfully started.’

Colin Smith added his experiences of the last Olympics in Beijing. He said: ‘It’s a multi-faceted event. No matter what role you play, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the involvement by businesses and individuals. There must be amazing ways local businesses and enterprises can feature. In Beijing you got the feeling it was a national event, not just a city one.'

The minister was also fascinated to be shown the speech notes from the opening ceremony of the 1948 London Olympics, as delivered by Prime Minister and Oxford alumnus Clement Atlee which are housed in the Bodleian Library. This and other items may feature as part of the University’s celebration of the Cultural Olympiad.