Paralympics chief to deliver lecture at Coventry University

Sir Philip Craven MBE, the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the global governing body of Paralympic sport, is giving a free talk in Coventry later this month.

During his talk, Sir Philip, who represented Great Britain in wheelchair basketball at five Paralympic Games from 1972 to 1988, will be discussing the many benefits that sport can make to the lives of people with impairment at an open lecture at Coventry University on Tuesday 16 September.

Sir Phillip will also talk about his own career as an athlete and the work of the IPC at the event, which is taking place during a three day conference on Paralympic sports at the University.

Hosted by Coventry University’s Centre for International Business of Sport (CIBS), the conference brings together academics, researchers, policy makers and representatives from sporting bodies. 

The conference – the second of its kind to be hosted at the University - will examine the beneficial effects of Paralympic sports for participants, spectators and society as a whole; explore strategies for promoting these activities as a means of social inclusion; and investigate the legacy achievements of Paralympic events. 

Sir Philip Craven said: 

I’m delighted to have this opportunity to share my experience as an athlete and sports administrator with students and members of the public and to talk about the work of the IPC.

Coventry University has an excellent reputation for sport education and research and I’m looking forward to working with the University to further raise the profile of Paralympic sport.

Coventry University’s CIBS team undertakes a wide range of research on all aspects of sport, from marketing and merchandising to governance and the management of mega-events.   

The University’s sports programmes are also well regarded. Its Sport Management MSc has claimed number one spot in the UK for the past three years in a respected global league table for master’s programmes and has now broken into its top 15 worldwide. 

In addition, the University’s sports scholarship scheme, which offers support to elite athletes pursuing academic qualifications, has proved highly successful. Current sports scholars include Paralympian Hannah Cockroft MBE, who joined the scheme when she enrolled on the University’s Journalism and Media course last year. 

The 22 year old, who won 100m and 200m gold in the wheelchair racing events at the London 2012 Paralympics, has enjoyed outstanding success during this year’s athletics season, most recently winning gold in the 100m and 800m at the recent IPC European Championships. Hannah will return to her studies at the University this autumn.