Several well-known sporting identities will discuss the Olympics in the 21st century at an upcoming forum at The University of Queensland.
The Olympic Sport and Education Forum will be held on Friday, October 31 from 9am–4.30pm in the Abel Smith Lecture Theatre, Campbell Road, UQ St Lucia.
It will be presented by UQ’s Centre for Olympic Studies and the Queensland Olympic Council (QOC).
“The forum is designed for present and aspiring athletes, coaches, teachers, students, sport administrators, journalists and sporting enthusiasts,” said co-organiser and UQ Centre for Olympic Studies Director Dr Ian Jobling.
Entitled The 21st century Olympics: the people, the planning, the problems, the forum will include a panel of Olympic and elite athletes, as well as a panel of successful sports industry professionals.
Other presentations will include an historical overview of the modern Olympics, an Australian Olympic Committee report on preparations for the 2004 Athens Olympics and a Drugs in Sport presentation.
Current athletes attending the forum include swimmer Jodie Henry (2003 World Championships and 2002 Commonwealth Games); softballer Kim Cooper (1996 Atlanta Olympic Games bronze medallist); track athlete Rick Mitchell (1980 Moscow Olympic Games 400m silver medallist and Australian team captain); and shooter Anne-Marie Forder (2000 Sydney Olympic Games 10m air pistol bronze medallist and 2002 Commonwealth Games dual bronze medallist).
Athletes from previous Olympic Games also attending include Michael Wenden (dual gold medallist and former 100m freestyle world record holder) and Julie McDonald (current long course 800m freestyle Commonwealth record holder and 1988 Seoul Olympic Games 800m bronze medallist).
Other participants include sports psychologist Miranda Banks from the Queensland Rugby Union; sports manager Lisa Stallard from International Quarterback, whose client base includes John Eales, Grant Hackett, Geoff Huegill, Matthew Hayden and Layne Beachley; sports journalist John McCoy from Radio 4BC; sports sponsor Richard Chapman from Coca-Cola Amatil; and sports coach Bob Crudgington who was the Australian women’s softball team coach at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.
People interested in attending should telephone 07 3217 2111 or email qoc@olympics.com.au by Thursday, October 23.
Registration costs $10/person, which includes lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments and an official Olympic Forum certificate.
Media: For further information, contact Dr Jobling (telephone 07 3365 6766, mobile 0417 192 531, email ianj@hms.uq.edu.au), QOC’s Paul Mudge (telephone 07 3217 2111, email qoc@olympics.com.au) or Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2619).
