Seb Coe launches London 2017 Volunteer Training
Loughborough University Chancellor and IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe visited Loughborough University London on Thursday 1st June to launch the Volunteer Training Centre for the London 2017 World Athletics Championships.
With the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Championships taking place in the same city for the first time, London 2017 is set to be the best World Championships to date. Joining alumnus Coe at the launch event was Sir Philip Craven, President of the IPC, the duo combining again having worked closely on London 2012.
Naturally, as with all major sporting events, volunteers will play a major role in ensuring the championships, which run from 14-23 July and 4-13 August, are a success.
Taking place at Loughborough University London for the whole of June, volunteer training will see over 4,500 volunteers pass through the campus, where they’ll hopefully leave with the skills and resources needed to equip them for a busy summer of athletics.
Working with London 2017, Loughborough University will survey a large number of the volunteers, something that will form the basis of a piece of research into volunteer motivations.
Of Loughborough’s role in supporting London 2017 Lord Coe said:
“I think it’s really important that Loughborough University, which is the preeminent university in the world of sport, should also be looking beyond simply providing the great coaching and ultimately the great athletes, but more broadly into what it’s also very good at, which is event management.
“Loughborough really understands the value of the volunteers, because ultimately the view which people form about these championships will be largely predicated on the quality and ability of the people we see gathered here today. They’re often the first people you meet when you arrive and possibly the last people you say goodbye to, and throughout the course of the event journey they’re the ones who are way finding and being there to give a helping hand. Often just a smile is enough to send people back recognising the event is something special. That's why good volunteers are so special and I’m delighted Loughborough is involved again.”
View the press release on the Loughborough University website for further information and resources.
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2020 QS World University Rankings and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
Specialising exclusively in postgraduate-level study, Loughborough University London is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers cutting-edge master’s and PhD degrees, as well as business collaboration, research and enterprise opportunities.
The seven specialist institutes at Loughborough University London include: Design Innovation, Digital Technologies, Diplomacy and International Governance, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, International Management, Media and Creative Industries, and Sport Business. Close industry partnerships with a wealth of leading businesses and creative organisations means teaching and learning is informed by real-life challenges and driven by true industry pressures.