The week culminates with the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Visa Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium, one of the test events being held in the months ahead of London 2012.

The week long campaign is run by Universities UK and BUCS to celebrate the wide contribution educational institutions make to sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement by hosting individual athletes or teams ahead of major international sports competitions.

A number of universities will be directly involved in this summer's Games, with some hosting national delegations and providing the athletes with training camps where they have the option to use facilities during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Loughborough University (pictured below) will be the Official Preparation Camp Headquarters for TeamGB during the Games.

The institution has an illustrious pedigree, featuring London 2012 chairman Seb Coe among their numerous sporting alumni.


The University of East London will be hosting the American teams for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, while South African, Irish, Chinese and Japanese athletes will be using the facilities at St Mary's University College, also in London.

Brunel University, University College London, the University of Hertfordshire, Durham University, the University of Surrey and the University of Bath are also among those hosting athletes competing in the Games this summer.

Another indirect link between the Games and Britain's education system is the lake (pictured below) at Eton Dorney where Olympic rowing – one of Britain's most successful and popular recent Olympic sports – will take place this summer.

Dorney Lake was created and opened in 2006 by schoolmasters of Eton, the famous English public school. 



On May 5, the final of the "Become the Commentator" competition will take place at the BUCS Visa OAC at the Olympic Stadium, running from May 4 to 7 . 

There, three finalists will receive coaching from Inverdale and former Olympic hammer thrower Paul Dickenson, before competing in the commentary box during the OAC's morning heats.

The winner will then commentate on the evening OAC finals in front of spectators. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2011: Olympic Stadium to be opened with British University Championships