The World Academy of Sport (WAoS) and UCL (University College London) have announced at the annual SportAccord Convention in Aarhus, Denmark (where the world’s leading governing bodies and sports companies are gathered), that they have joined forces to collaborate on a number of areas of joint interest.

WAoS is a world leading industry educational institution, providing programmes and services to some of the biggest global sporting brands and federations as a ‘World Sports Education Partner’.

UCL, London’s Global University, is a world leading institution helping to solve life’s greatest challenges through research and innovation. It is currently in the process of establishing a major new presence on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The new 11 acre site, UCL East, will ultimately provide 125,000 square metres for new facilities.

As WAoS continues to develop, it will work closely with UCL’s faculties of the Built Environment, Engineering Sciences and Mathematical & Physical Sciences. There are several areas that the collaboration will focus upon that are of joint interest to both parties:

·        The Multifaceted Relationship between Sport and Society – Challenges for future sustainability of existing sporting structures and social inclusion opportunities around the major events industry.

·        Innovations in Mega Event Operations – Innovation focused on fan experience, but also on efficiency and Return on Investment.

·        The Business of Sport and its Global Market Impact – Analysing the impact of sport on business and vice versa.

Speaking about the partnership with WAoS, Professor David Price, Vice-Provost (Research) at UCL, said: “UCL is a global university with research at its heart and the world of sport and major events represents a unique umbrella to address many of our research areas in collaboration with WAoS.

“Clearly there are many major challenges faced by the international sporting world where research and development, like in any other industry, can play its part. We look forward to working with WAoS in this exciting space.”

WAoS’ Director, Chris Solly, highlighted the importance of the collaboration: “The amazing research engines that universities represent are a natural partner for sport with well-directed research being able to help solve many of the challenges that sport faces, both in public and behind the scenes.

“UCL is an amazing global institution, ranked in the top 10 in the world, with an incredible academic and research history along with formidable global links to other outstanding institutions around the globe, and we are therefore delighted to welcome them in this collaboration.”

ABOUT WAOS

The World Academy of Sport (WAoS) delivers learning programmes for sports and event participants - athletes, managers, administrators, officials and coaches - through a series of tailored educational programmes. For further information visit www.worldacademysport.com

ABOUT UCL (University College London)

UCL was founded in 1826. We were the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. We are among the world's top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has over 38,000 students from 150 countries and over 12,000 staff. Our annual income is more than £1 billion. 

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