Stockport’s Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey has been unveiled as Manchester Metropolitan University’s latest faculty member, being named a Visiting Professor of Sport.
The Poynton-born swimmer turned cyclist, who boasts over 40 world titles and a whopping 62 medals overall, is the greatest British Para-athlete of all time, having won a record 17 gold medals across two disciplines and eight different Paralympic Games.
Safe to say with all that silverware, her incredible career which spans more than three decades makes her beyond the perfect person to serve as a university professor on a short-term contract ahead of the Paris 2024, not to mention keeping expertise local as a Greater Manchester native.
Working with Man Met‘s sports scientists on everything from preparation for the Summer Olympic Games to the impact of the menstrual cycle on female sports performance, Storey’s expertise will serve as a vital addition to the uni’s and its “mission to push [the] boundaries of sport and health to improve lives and shape society.”
We're delighted to welcome Britain’s most decorated Paralympian @DameSarahStorey as a Visiting Professor of Sport. 👏 👏
As well as bringing her expertise to our research, she's training with our sport scientists ahead of @Paris2024.
Sarah Storey has been named as a Visiting Professor in the lead-up to this summer’s Olympics.
Writing in the announcement of her new role, the Director of the MMU Institute of Sport, Professor Tim Cable, said: “As the most successful British Paralympian of all time, as well as someone who has close links to our city through her role as Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner, I am delighted to welcome Sarah as a Visiting Professor.
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“With her distinguished career and existing links with our University, Sarah will bring a wealth of experience, passion and knowledge that will help us develop our research and ensure it can make a difference to the city of Manchester and [the] wider region.
“Most importantly, we know that the experience that Sarah brings from her success as an elite athlete can have an impact on the health and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of other people.
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“It is this translational approach that will see our Institute of Sport deliver benefits for communities regionally, nationally and across our world.”
Having been given an honorary Master’s degree and doctorate in 2003 and ’09, respectively, the 46-year-old has continued to work with the institution ever since, teaming up with the Institute of Sport between 2011 and 2017 during her own training, as well as using the Manchester Fashion Institute to design a range of leisurewear to complement her elite Storey Racing team’s technical race clothing.
A serial winner and inspiration among the para-athletics community. (Credit: Steve./Richard Turner via Flickr)
Speaking on the appointment herself, the sporting icon and 43-time world champion now based in Disley, Cheshire, said: “I’m very excited to take up the role of Visiting Professor at the Institute of Sport.
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“It is a huge honour to have the opportunity to work with students across the University and get involved with research projects to really help Manchester Met achieve its goals and ambitions.
“The goals that the University has for its students, staff and wider community really align with my values. I hope to bring a unique perspective to the Institute of Sport through my 33 years’ experience as an elite athlete to help support both the teaching and research that is helping people from all backgrounds to live better and healthier lives through sport and exercise”.
She went on to explain how she started working with the uni “without even really knowing” via their partnership with the British Swimming team and said the offer was one she “simply couldn’t turn down” as she and Team GB look to build an “absolutely perfect” training programme ahead of Paris 2024.
Here’s hoping it’s another tournament draped in plenty of medals.
Tickets go live as opening date is announced for Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience
Emily Sergeant
Tickets to visit Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience have officially gone live ahead of the grand opening.
Set to open in the heart of the £300m Medlock Square entertainment district at Manchester’s Etihad Campus next month, the Manchester City Museum Experience will be spread across 10 distinctive spaces – with visitors invited to take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic environments from throughout the club’s history.
Fans will also be able to take part in interactive media experiences, like posing with all 48 major trophies won by the club’s first teams or trying their hand at football punditry.
The experience will combine the latest immersive technology with physical memorabilia drawn from across the club’s history to do this.
Hidden details and surprising ‘did you know’ facts are set to be embedded across the experience, so that even the most devoted Man City fans will have the chance to discover something new about the club they love.
By combining interactive environments, technology, and authentic artefacts, the experience is aiming to appeal to a wide audience – from lifelong Manchester City supporters, to families and those with a broader interest in football, culture, and the city of Manchester.
“The Museum Experience has been designed as a destination that goes beyond just the pitch,” commented Jeremy Maxton, who is the Director of Visitor Attractions at Manchester City Football Club.
Manchester City releases CGIs and important details of its new ‘immersive’ museum / Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
“Whether you’re a lifelong supporter, visiting Manchester for a weekend, or simply looking for a unique day out, we’ve created an experience that offers something for everyone.
“From the recreated environments and original memorabilia to the interactive elements, there are different ways into the Club’s history throughout the Museum.
“We’ve also built in space for new stories to be added over time, so the experience can continue to evolve. It’s been a huge project to bring together and we’re looking forward to people seeing it for themselves later this year.”
The Manchester City Museum Experience officially opens on 14 December, and you can now book tickets to visit from that date here.
Featured Image – Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
Sport
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
Danny Jones -
23rd January 2024 
