UKSI invited to join newly-launched DCMS Board of Women’s Sport
The UK Sports Institute (UKSI) has been recognised as a leader in female athlete health and performance and invited to help shape the future of women’s sport by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The newly-convened Board of Women’s Sport has been established to bring together key figures from both sports bodies and academia, in order to help the women’s sport sector continue to grow in a sustainable way.
Female Athlete Health and Performance is a strategic priority for the UKSI, with a multidisciplinary team of sports medicine doctors, physiologists, physiotherapists and performance innovation consultants working together to support the health and wellbeing of female Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
The Board met for the first time on Tuesday 26 March, focusing on the theme of Physical Health and Welfare, aiming to cover ACL injuries and concussion, as well as the impact of female health life stages on an athlete.
The UKSI was represented by Chief Executive Matt Archibald and Director of Clinical Governance Dr Pippa Bennett.
UK Sports Institute Chief Executive Matt Archibald said: “We are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to meet with our peers from across the sector to help drive women’s sport and the health and wellbeing of female athletes forwards.
“Currently, not enough time, resource or research is dedicated to women’s sport and female athletes and we are committed to being part of the solution to changing that.
“We would like to thank the DCMS for inviting us to be part of this important conversation and we look forward to working together to improve health and performance outcomes for female athletes.”
Also taking part in the Board meeting were UEFA, the FA, England Rugby, Concussion Research Forum, The Well HQ and FIFA. Representatives from UK Sport, the BEAA and a number of National Governing Bodies were also in attendance.
Find out more about the recent work of our Female Athlete Health and Performance Team.
Listen to our female-focused podcast, The UKSI Insider.