On Wednesday 19 July the Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH) opened its doors in celebration of the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships which are taking place in London this July and August.
The ISEH is a major legacy project of the 2012 London Olympic Games and the Open Day was a chance for members of the public to learn more about what the Institute does on a day to day basis as well as hear about the long term Olympic legacy.
ISEH Clinical Director Prof Fares Haddad welcomed the attendees and gave an overview of the ISEH and how the Institute plays a critical role in research, education and clinical activity in sports and exercise medicine.
Dr Mike Loosemore, Lead Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine at the ISEH and Lead Sport Physician at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) then spoke to the audience and shared his experience across a range of sports as well giving an insight into supporting teams at major competitions including Rio 2016, where he was Deputy Chief Medical Officer, London 2012 and Beijing 2008. He is also Team GB’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the Winter Olympics Games in PyeongChang next year.
Next up were our special guest SportsAid who the ISEH works in close partnership with.
SportsAid ambassador and Olympic silver medallist Keri-Anne Payne spoke to the audience about her experiences first as a swimmer and how she got involved in the sport at a young age and then an open water swimmer across three Olympic Games and how she prepared and adjusted her training for each as her career progressed.
Finally attendees were given a full tour of the Institute including the clinical facilities on the second floor as well as the lab where ISEH's Bruce Paton and Belinda Durey showcased different equipment including a live CPET test demonstrating how it can help athletes.
The Open Day concluded with a Q and A session hosted by ISEH Development Director Matt James where members of the audience asked a wide range of questions around physical activity to concussion to life after sport for a professional athlete.
Matt James said: “The range of questions to our panel showed the real interest and knowledge of the audience which was great and it also highlighted again the different areas of work the ISEH is involved in. The Open Day also allowed many people to meet each other for the first time and I am sure this will lead to further projects and developments.”