John Amaechi OBE to join debate on sports policy

28 Oct 2013

Manchester Policy Week explores austerity’s impact on a national obsession

The development of UK sports policy in the face of funding cuts will be debated during Manchester Policy Week by an expert panel - including psychologist and former star basketball player John Amaechi OBE.

Sport in the Age of Austerity (Friday 1 November, 2-4pm) seeks to explore whether sport is a public good, what the aims of sport policy should be, and the role of government in this.

An expert panel of academics and practitioners will discuss contemporary sports policy and how it should develop in the future given the cuts in funding imposed by the current Coalition government.

The event is open to all staff and students, as well as to sport practitioners, professionals and members of the public.

The expert panel will comprise;

• John Amaechi OBE, psychologist, organisational consultant and high-performance executive coach, and senior fellow at the Applied Centre for Emotional Literacy, Learning and Research
• Dr Chris Porter, Centre for the Study of Football and its Communities, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Dan Parnell, Programme Leader of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Derby
• Dr Neil King, Senior Lecturer in Sport Development, Edge Hill University

Places at the event, which will be held in University Place, are free. To register, visit Sport in the Age of Austerity 

Manchester Policy Week is a week-long showcase of the University’s expertise on public policy issues.

Running from 28 October to 1 November, it includes seminars and workshops run by expert researchers across the University, complemented by keynote events featuring high-profile figures and policy influencers.