29
October
2017
|
23:06
Europe/London
City honours University’s contribution to sport
The city has paid tribute to the enormous contribution The University of Manchester has made to sport, by giving it the 'Outstanding contribution to sport' accolade at its most prestigious award ceremony.
The award was given at the climax of a glittering ceremony at the annual Manchester Sport Awards, in recognition of years of work in the city by the University.
The Sport team were praised by the evening’s host, 400 metre record holder Iwan Thomas who listed the University’s achievements, including the almost 2,500 staff and students who donned the purple shirt in this year’s Great Manchester Run.
The runners raised tens of thousands of pounds for scholarships and good causes which change lives and communities in Manchester and around the world.
These included the Equity and Merit Scholarships which provide funding for talented students from countries in Africa and the Big Change, a project to help end homelessness in Manchester.
“
This is a great honour and a fabulous recognition of the brilliant students and staff who put so much into our sporting life at the University. I’d also like to pay tribute to my fabulous team who work tirelessly to make sport accessible for all. We passionately believe that Sport has enormous benefits to everyone and everyone’s physical and mental health. It really can transform lives
Vicky Ackerley, Head of Sport
„
Also applauded was the recent opening of the UK’s largest University all-weather pitch facilities; Manchester is the first university in the country to deliver a project with 6 all-weather pitches on one site.
The project at the Armitage Sports Ground enabled a £13m regeneration project to take place at Belle Vue Sports Village with the creation of the National Basketball Performance centre and the National Speedway Stadium, which also included two new All Weather pitches.
The ceremony also acknowledged the 855 students engaged in the Sport Volunteering Scheme, 175 athletes supported through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and the nearly 17,000 students and staff who regularly engage in University sport programmes.
The awards celebrate the achievements of clubs, coaches, volunteers, unsung heroes, athletes, schools and community groups that in Manchester.
Head of Sport Vicky Ackerley accepted the award on behalf of the University from Cllr Luthfur Rahman and Cllr Emily Rowles.
She said: “This is a great honour and a fabulous recognition of the brilliant students and staff who put so much into our sporting life at the University.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to my fabulous team who work tirelessly to make sport accessible for all.
“We passionately believe that sport has enormous benefits to everyone and everyone’s physical and mental health. It really can transform lives.”