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Aston University announced as an Official University for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Feb 16, 2022

3 min

Patricia ThornleyLeon Davies


  • Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held between 28 July and 8 August
  • Aston University will provide ophthalmic expertise to the polyclinics
  • The University is proud to support the mission of Birmingham 2022 to be the first Games to create a carbon neutral legacy
  • Students have been set a challenge to develop ideas for creating a sustainable Games.


Aston University has been unveiled as an Official University to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will take place between 28 July and 8 August this year.


The University’s School of Optometry will be loaning ophthalmic equipment and providing eye care expertise, supported by a network of qualified optometrist volunteers, for three polyclinics which will form the primary healthcare facilities for athletes and team officials requiring medical assessment and treatment throughout the Games period.


Professor Leon Davies, professor of optometry and physiological optics at Aston University, said:


“It is our aim to advance eye health in our region and society through innovative and clinically relevant education, research, and community engagement. I am looking forward to overseeing the Games’ eye care clinics throughout Birmingham 2022.


“In addition to providing ophthalmic equipment during the Games, we have also brought together a cohort of volunteer optometrists, dispensing opticians and ophthalmologists from across the UK.”



Dr Pam Venning, head of medical services at Birmingham 2022, said:


“We are delighted to have Aston University on board as an Official University. Its School of Optometry is well-known for its innovation and world-leading education.


“Birmingham 2022 wouldn’t be possible without teams of volunteers, and we are looking forward to working with the optometrists, opticians and ophthalmologists assembled by the University to support the athletes and officials attending the Games.”


The University will also be supporting Birmingham 2022 in its aim to be the first Games to create a carbon neutral legacy by providing parking and hosting temporary electric vehicle charging facilities for its fleet, as well as other spaces on campus for its organising team.


The director of Aston University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, Professor Patricia Thornley, said:


“It is important that such a flagship event in Birmingham embodies the very best in sustainable practices, and we are working hard to support that.”


Nicola Turner MBE, director of legacy and Jess Fidler, head of sustainability for Birmingham 2022 spoke to students in a special event in November setting out the work being done to create a legacy for the region, including the ambition to create a carbon neutral legacy.


Birmingham 2022 has also provided this year’s business challenge for postgraduate business and management students at Aston Business School, who have been tasked with developing ideas for how the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games can create a lasting sustainability legacy for the city.


The best ideas from the challenge will be reviewed by the Birmingham 2022 team and the West Midlands Combined Authority, who are taking the lead on a sustainability legacy.


Saskia Loer Hansen, Interim Vice-Chancellor of Aston University, said:


“At Aston University, we take an holistic approach that embeds sustainability through all our external activities at local, national and international level.


“We are proud to support the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in its aim to be the first Games to create a carbon neutral legacy.”


Commonwealth Games Federation CEO, Katie Sadleir, said:


“We are delighted to welcome Aston University as an Official University to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.


“The University will provide vital ophthalmic expertise and equipment for athletes and team officials requiring ophthalmic assessment and treatment throughout the Games.


“This is a critical service and with Aston University, we have a fantastic partner to deliver this.”

Connect with:
Patricia Thornley

Patricia Thornley

Director of EBRI, Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute

Patricia Thornley works in assessing the environmental, economic and social impacts of renewable energy technologies.

ChemistrySupergen ProjectClimate ChangeBioenergyEnvironmental Sciences
Leon Davies

Leon Davies

Professor of Optometry & Physiological Optics

Professor Davies's research is focused on presbyopia and the restoration of ocular accommodation to the ageing eye.

Visual Function Following StrokeOphthalmic InstrumentationIntraocular Lens (IOL) TechnologyPresbyopiaOcular Accommodation

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