WOLVERHAMPTON UNIVERSITY TO HOST TEAM WALES FOR BIRMINGHAM 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
The University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus is to host Team Wales for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF will be based at the University campus for the Commonwealth Games in July and August 2022.
Through the partnership there will also be opportunities for athletes to use the University’s state-of-the-art sports facilities through training camps in the run up to the Games, giving staff and students further experience of working with elite sports people.
There are also plans for guest lectures, Q&A sessions and visits by students to Team Wales’ sports facilities.
The news was announced at a launch event featuring University and Team Wales representatives, including athlete Jaz Joyce, of Women’s Rugby 7s.
Team Wales representatives including two athletes and Chief Executive Officer Chris Jenkins will be present at the announcement, along with University representatives including Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Layer.
Chris Jenkins, Team Wales CEO commented;
“This is a really exciting opportunity for both organisations and allows for Team Wales to have a local base for our coaches and support staff not far from the sporting venues. The Birmingham Games is the closest we’ve had to our nation since the Manchester Games in 2002, and its meant we’ve been able to strategically plan the next three years on a more proactive level with regular site visits and insightful discussions with the Birmingham team. The accessibility of Birmingham for us has been hugely beneficial and has meant we can create worthy partnerships just like we’re here for today. We look forward to working with the University over the next three years and create a welcoming base for our staff during the Games.”
University of Wolverhampton Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “We are delighted to be hosting Team Wales for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This news builds on the recent hugely successful Commonwealth Judo Championships which we hosted in September and really put Walsall on the sporting map.
“Sport is a key priority for the University and we are continuing to invest in cutting edge new technology to develop our offer for elite sports teams and further expand the learning experience for our students. Our staff and students are really looking forward to increasing our work with elite athletes, coaches and support staff through the partnership and we wish Team Wales every success in the build-up to 2022.”
Team Wales will occupy around 50 halls of residence rooms at the Walsall Campus for the duration of the Commonwealth Games.
As part of the deal, Team Wales Athletes Commission will be invited to the University for Q&A sessions with sports students and there will also be opportunities for media students to interview and film athletes.
National coaches, Performance Directors, Physiotherapists, Doctors and Psychologists will also be invited to the campus to give presentations and an insight into what is involved with the support team ‘behind’ the team, and various lectures will be offered tailored to meet the needs of University courses.
Commonwealth sports will be invited to use the University facilities as a training camp during the build-up to the 2022 Games, giving students and University staff the opportunity to collaborate, learn and gain valuable experience whilst providing Team Wales athletes with additional support.
The University has recently invested an initial £1 million in revamping the sports and research facilities at its Walsall Campus. This includes new hi-tech equipment such as cutting edge 3D motion capture technology, which was tested out by England Test cricket captain Joe Root during a recent visit to the University, and an environmental chamber to replicate nearly any climate on the planet.