Olympian task for University of Queensland

The University of Queensland has forged a close link with the Sydney 2000 Games through being chosen as Australia's third Centre for Olympic Studies.

A memorandum of understanding to establish the Centre at the University was recently signed with the Australian Olympic Committee, following similar agreements with the University of New South Wales and the University of South Australia.

The aim of the Centre, based in the School of Human Movement Studies, is to encourage and foster greater awareness and understanding of the Olympic movement and the Olympic charter, both within the University and the broader community.

It will be headed by Olympic historian Dr Ian Jobling, whose 30-year association with the Olympic Movement has included being foundation chairman of the Australian Olympic Federation's (now AOC) Education Commission and a member of the steering committee of the Greece-based Foundation of Olympic and Sport Education. He is chairman of the Education Commission of the Queensland Olympic Council (QOC).

The Centre will undertake Olympic research projects, instigate distinguished lectures and occasional papers, collect and store archival material and conduct sessions of the Australian Olympic Academy in conjunction with the Queensland Olympic Academy.

Dr Jobling has started an archive and resources area in the School of Human Movement Studies with his personal Olympic library, memorabilia and information.

He said the role of the Centre was "to try and provide information from an academic point of view, rather than from a media sensation point of view," he said. "There will be critical analysis, but from a different perspective, it will be information which provides an academic insight into all facets of Olympism."

Initiatives already in place in conjunction with the Queensland Olympic Council are a travelling education project to be taken to western Queensland in May, and a session of the Australian Olympic Academy to be held on the Gold Coast in November.

For more information, contact Dr Jobling on (07) 3365-6766.