Sport-for-all manager joins LJMU as part of international collaboration

LJMU is set to strengthen its reputation for promoting sport-for-all and physical activity in its communities.

The University has announced new collaborations with TAFISA, the global Association For International Sport For All, which benefits from support from the International Olympic Committee for a number of its programmes.

The partners will focus on Active City Advocacy and Development and have appointed a coordinator, John Marsden, who will be based at LJMU’s Physical Activity Exchange.

John who has been the TAFISA Commissioner for Active Cities since 2018, will be providing support to cities, and to national and international governing bodies of sport who are interested in developing their own Active City approach.

International cooperation

Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Keith George said: “Combining TAFISA’s worldwide reputation and networks and the world-leading research and civic-focus of LJMU with John’s experience of the reality of delivery on sport and physical activity agendas is very exciting.”

LJMU and TAFISA have enjoyed a 15-year relationship collaborating closely on successful initiatives, such as the European SportCityNet, Take Back Your Streets-Take Back Your Future, and most recently Active City Capacity Building Workshops, the Promoting Active Cities Throughout Europe project and the Global Active City initiative.

The focus is now very much on the Active Cities, Active Communities, Active Citizens framework, known as the Triple-AC, which provides a one-stop-shop for cities and governing bodies of sport together with National Olympic Committees, to develop Active City initiatives at all levels of society.

By 2050 nearly 70% of the world’s population will live or work in a city posing challenges around levels of physical activity and in ensuring community and citizen voices are heard in debates around infrastructure, education, health and sport.

Research, policy and practice

TAFISA Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann said: “Liverpool John Moores University has become one of our most trusted partners. LJMU is one of the top universities in the UK and their expertise, combined with TAFISA’s hands-on approach, will enable us to develop and deliver evidence-based initiatives in research, policy and practice. I thank LJMU for their on-going support of TAFISA and look forward to this next exciting chapter of our story together.”

Professor George added:  “This is a partnership which has already had transformational effects in cities, communities and individuals.  That is why the launch of the Triple AC Framework and the appointment of John Marsden is so important for our future work together.”

For further information about International Active City Advocacy and Development please contact Mr. John Marsden, email J.Marsden@ljmu.ac.uk