Get Face to Face with Sports Science

21 March 2012

When the difference between an Olympic Gold or Silver medal can come down to less than 0.01% every performance gain an athlete can make counts. Every athlete will benefit from the advances in sports science at the London 2012 Olympic Games and LJMU is launching a unique opportunity to see this in action.

Starting this week, LJMU’s School of Sport and Exercise Science will be providing schools in the region and members of the public an opportunity to see how this works, and within this bringing London 2012 to everyone in the North West.

Face to Face with Sports Science opens at the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester on Friday 23 March for local schools, and Saturday 24 March as the first open event for the public.

Everyone will have the chance to engage in a range of activities, and see the science involved with the most advanced training methods, techniques and equipment used by the world's leading athletes and coaches, including those taking part in the London 2012 Olympic Games. At each event visitors will be exposed to a series of interactive pods that allows them to appreciate the physical and psychological assessments elite athletes use to help prepare and compete in major competitions.

Olympic bronze medallist and British heavyweight boxer David Price and Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, Greg Whyte, who recently trained John Bishop for Sport Relief, will be helping at the school event on 23rd March.

LJMU recently provided a preview of this project to a group of vulnerable and at risk young people who are part of the Redi project in Bootle.

Tim Coates, Redi Set Go Project Co-Ordinator, commented:

"For many children and young people in Bootle, the Redi Project is a place of security and somewhere they can go which has positive role models, fun and exciting new experiences and opportunities to learn new skills. Redi Set Go is a themed project, based on this year’s Olympics and incorporates the 7 values with sports many of the children have never participated in, such as curling and sitting volleyball. Being given the chance to use the Sports Science department at LJMU is an amazing opportunity for children to experience the science behind sport and what it takes to become an Olympian - inspiring their participation in sport as a hobby or career."

The University's Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences (RISES) received a People Award from the Wellcome Trust and a Royal Society Partnership Grant to hold the series of events in north west museums and schools leading up to and during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

LJMU's Dr John Dickinson, who is leading the project said:

"The purpose of Face to Face with Sports Science is to expose people to key scientific and technological developments in Sports and Exercise Science in a hands-on and accessible manner. We can’t all be professional footballers or Olympic athletes but we can all have an interest in health, nutrition and exercise."

Exhibit Dates for the general public (admission is free):

24 March, MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester)
23 June, Liverpool World Museum
7 July, Liverpool World Museum
20 October, Museum of Science & Industry

For further information about Face to Face with Sports Science please visit: www.ljmu.ac.uk/f2fss
twitter: @f2fss

For further information about Redi, please visit: www.ykids.co.uk

Pictured: (left) Jenny Platt explaining principles of healthy eating.

Pictured: (right) LJMU student Joshua Conner measuring jump height.