Athletes and UEL students to get more funds after Asics deal

Luke Jacobs Monday, July 30, 2012
1:00 PM

The University of East London has signed a deal with sports footwear firm Asics to offer scholarships and fund up and coming athletes.

The company will open a centre at the UEL’s Stratford Campus during the Games, hosting athletes and businessmen.

The UEL said a “generous and significant budget” had been set aside as part of the agreement to offer two students a chance to start sports science degree for the next three years.

Applicants for athletics scholarships should be competing at a national and international level in athletics, and agree to compete for UEL and act as an ambassador when needed.

Those interested in undergraduate scholarships will need 300 or more UCAS points and have until August 22 to apply.

Alastair Cameron, chief executive of Asics Europe, said: “As a true sports performance brand, research and development is at the heart of our business.

“Asics is committed to supporting up and coming talent in the world of sports and sports science at UEL.”

An academic researcher will visit the Asics Institute of Sport Science in Kobe, Japan. Money has also been set aside to fund two PhD students each year for the next three years.

They will be studying the impact of sports footwear on the foot and lower limb.

UEL pro-vice chancellor Nirmal Borkhataria, said: “We’re delighted that an organisation of Asics global reputation has decided to join our family of high profile partners.”