Executive dean takes part in Commonwealth Games medal ceremony

A familiar face from University College Birmingham has made an appearance at the medal podium in the Commonwealth Games – and without even needing to compete!

Star athletes racing in the Birmingham 2022 Women's Triathlon on Friday were greeted at the medal podium by Professor Elaine Limond, interim Executive Dean of the University's School of Business, Tourism and Creative Industries.

University College Birmingham is an Official University of the Games, offering VIP accreditation as well as the opportunity for a representative from the University to attend one of the Games' medal ceremonies.

And that honour fell to Elaine, who was on hand at the podium to present Bermuda’s Flora Duffy (gold), England’s Georgia Taylor-Brown (silver) and Scotland’s Beth Potter (bronze) with soft toys of the Commonwealth Games mascot Perry to accompany their medals.

"It was an honour presenting to the Women's Sprint Triathlon winners," said Scottish-born Elaine, who also had the chance to grab a photo with bronze medallist and compatriot Beth.

"Having done a couple of sprint triathlons a long time ago, I am full of admiration for these athletes, and I was excited to see them in action as well as playing a very small part in their day!"

Elaine is no stranger to sporting challenges herself, having spent many years as a rugby union player and coach both in the UK and abroad.

Representing clubs in the Midlands and the north-east as well as spending a season playing Division One rugby in Canada, Elaine then progressed into a coaching career, working as assistant coach for the England U20 women and in other roles with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Having developed her career in education at University College Birmingham alongside her sporting commitments, Elaine said having the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham would provide a range of benefits both to the local area and the University.

University College Birmingham is hosting Team Scotland for the duration of the Games, with students getting closely involved with the team and the Games as a whole.

"Having the Games on our doorstep is a huge opportunity for Birmingham and the West Midlands," said Elaine. "The city centre is already buzzing and so many visitors from around the globe are able to see what we offer.

"For University College Birmingham, hosting Team Scotland means we have a fantastic opportunity to really showcase the best of our staff, students and amazing facilities."

The University's Summer Row campus has been rebranded as Scotland House for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and is serving as Team Scotland's main hub of operations.

Our Moss House campus building has also been transformed into an exclusive Performance Centre for the team, providing facilities ranging from state-of-the-art gyms, clinics and meeting rooms to ice baths, sleep pods and more.

Team Scotland has also appointed Sports Therapy lecturer Gareth Bate and graduate Kacper Bolon onto its soft tissue crew, with the duo working closely with more than 300 athletes throughout the duration of the Games.

The linkup with Team Scotland is also creating a wealth of opportunities for current University College Birmingham students, from helping on the team's digital marketing to running a hair salon for athletes and their families as well as serving them in our award-winning restaurant.

Find out more about University College Birmingham’s partnership with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games here.