Centre for Sports Studies Research Receives Widespread National and International Media Coverage
Research by Dr Sakis Pappous, Senior Lecturer in Sports and Exercise Management at the University of Kent which casts doubt on the sporting legacy of the London 2012 Olympics has generated widespread media interest both at home and abroad. Respected publications such as the Guardian Newspaper in the UK and the Scotsman in Scotland along with public broadcast corporations like the BBC have published reports of the study on their websites.
There has also been a live interview on the Skai TV (Greece) and KMFM radio (Kent) on the findings of this survey. For the media reaction to the study please log-on to the following websites.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/may/29/london-2012-legacy-sports-participation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-13615588
http://www.scotsman.com/uk/Doubts-over-sporting-legacy-of.6776579.jp
The study conducted by Dr Pappous into the legacy of the 2004 Athens Olympics has highlighted the challenges now facing the London 2012 Olympic organisers to sustain the public interest in sporting activities, which was at the heart of their 2012 bid, and in ensuring people continue to participate in sport and physical activity once the Games have ended.
The study has provoked debate among the media and in government circles. A spokesman for the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "We have not seen the full research but the government and Olympic organisers are completely committed to delivering a lasting sporting legacy from the 2012 Games."
Dr Pappous has said that the University of Kent is concerned with communicating the research that it is producing to society and will continue to engage with the media in publicising its research studies.
