Griffith delegation heads to Glasgow ahead of the Commonwealth Games

Mr Chris Madden, Strategic Advisor - 2018 Commonwealth Games will lead a delegation to Glasgow

Today marks exactly four years until the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Now the countdown is underway, Griffith University has announced a delegation will head to the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games to work with local universities there and learn about the role they have played in the games.

The six delegates will travel to Glasgow on the 16th til 23rd of July to attend this prestigious world sporting event.

Delegation leader Mr Chris Madden, Strategic Advisor said it is all part of Griffith’s commitment to helping ensure the Gold Coast delivers a world-class event in 2018 and one which leaves a valuable footprint on the city.

“Universities are already international institutions with strong city and community links, which can help bring partners together,” Mr Madden said.

“Through legacy plans, universities can seek to further develop sporting assets and infrastructure and maximise participation in sport — whether that’s by elite athletes, students, or members of the local community.

“By working in partnership with our colleagues in Glasgow and sharing experiences and academic research, we can help deliver a sustainable legacy for future generations.

“We see levels of involvement across our campuses through our expertise in sports management, sports science, sports medicine, sports technology and physical education,”he said.

Griffith’s Head of Allied Health Science, Professor Peter Milburn, who works on a variety of sport and exercise research, said he is keen to find out what colleagues around the world are doing.

“My primary role will be to liaise with localuniversities and observehow they and the Games Organising Committee have provided and delivered sports medicine and sport science expertise in the lead-up and during the Games.As part of this, we will be promoting Griffith’s capacity to assist Teams in the lead-up to the 2018 Games with the aim of encouraging them to base themselves at the Gold Coast campus.”

Professor David Thiel (Engineering) is attending the International Sports Engineering Association in Sheffield where he and his Griffith University colleagues will be presenting seven papers on sports related wearable technologies (basketball, classical dance, running, swimming).

He will then join the delegation in Glasgow to review the inclusion of sports technology and local university interactions with the Commonwealth Games planning and implementation.

“The use of non-chemical sports technologies continues to increase in the preparation of athletes for major events, however, even at junior and amateur levels these low-cost technologies can be used for skill learning, skill assessment, training load and injury recovery,” Professor Thiel said.

Delegates also attending include:

  • Professor James Skinner, Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management
  • David Morgan, Fitness Australia
  • Adjunct Associate Professor Mark Brown, Sports Medicine Australia (QLD)