University highlighted for strong alternative sports offering

Coventry University’s part in a multimillion pound Lottery funded campaign to encourage students to take part in sports has been highlighted in a report by organisers Sport England.

Sports staff at the University are using the campaign – which is called Active Universities – to offer a range of unusual sports such as ultimate frisbee and korfball to pique students’ interest, as well as traditional sports such as tennis and golf.

Over 46,000 students from 49 universities around the UK have taken part in the campaign to date, and in the first year of the initiative Coventry University emerged as one of the most successful institutions – it has now attracted over 840 students, staff and members of the public and has exceeded its participation target by 143%.

Students and members of the community alike have flocked to take part in a host of relaxed, novice-friendly sports sessions on campus as part of the University’s ‘Sports Active’ programme, which was set up for the £10 million Sport England initiative.

The aim of the Sports Active project is to boost participation in sport in the wake of the Olympic and Paralympic Games by offering a series of taster sessions in different sports which can be followed up by ongoing participation, either for fun or for serious competition.

Katherine Clarke, sports activator at Coventry University, said:

The project is giving students and staff a real new opportunity to get involved in sport in a relaxed, fun non-competitive environment. It is really helping to engage a different group of students who have not been engaged in university sport in the past, which has been really promising.

It has also been good to see how well-received our alternative sport offering has been, with participants showing great commitment and attending regularly.

To learn more about the University’s Sports Active programme, please contact active.su@coventry.ac.uk or visit www.coventry.ac.uk/sport.

For further information, please contact Alex Roache, external press and media relations officer, Coventry University, on +44 (0)24 7679 5050 or email alex.roache@coventry.ac.uk.