The Queensland Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies is the only IOC sanctioned Olympic Studies and Research Centre in Queensland and one of three Australia-wide.
The Centre for Olympic Studies was founded at the University of Queensland in the year 2000 by Honorary Associate Professor Ian Jobling. In 2024, the Centre was renamed and restructured as the Queensland Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies (QCOPS), to encompass the diverse range of Olympic, Paralympic, and sport-related research being conducted across the region. Professor John Cairney (HoS, HMNS) is the inaugural director of QCOPS with Honorary Associate Professor Jobling serving as its patron.
The Centre’s aim is to increase academic and public knowledge of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. QCOPS is a hub for research on big issues and ideas related to The Games, and sport and health more broadly. We connect scholars from UQ and our affiliate university members with influential thinkers in industry, government, and community bodies.
We promote community knowledge about the Olympic and Paralympic Games, through hosting public lectures, community events, and educational programs. QCOPS will be home to UQ’s Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame project, which celebrates current students and alumni who have and will compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Queensland Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies is a cornerstone of UQ’s overall Games strategy, as we work with our partners to ensure the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games leave a positive legacy for our region, and beyond.
Our Partners
Affiliate University Members
Featured Member: Associate Professor David Pritchard
David M. Pritchard is Associate Professor of Greek History at the University of Queensland. David’s expertise spans multiple areas of the Social and Cultural History of the Greco-Roman World and he has a particular interest in the Olympic Games.
In addition to his many academic publications, David frequently contributes his knowledge to public conversations about the Ancient Games and their resonance with the Modern Olympic and Paralympic movements. In the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Games, he helped curate the much celebrated exhibition 1000 Years of the Olympic Games: Treasures of Ancient Greece at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum.
In 2024, as Australians turn their gaze to Paris, David has lent his voice to important conversations about the history and value of the Games for 2GB, ABC Radio, and in international publications such as Kathimerini (Greece) and Le Monde (France). We look forward to more of David’s historical insights throughout this Olympic and Paralympic month, and as we approach Brisbane 2032.
Featured Member: Associate Professor Emma Beckman
Associate Professor Emma Beckman is a world leading expert on disability sport. Emma’s research and practice is focused on improving the lives of people with a disability through sports, physical activity, and exercise.
She is an internationally accredited classifier in Para Athletics and has classified at numerous world championships and two Paralympic Games. Along with Professor Sean Tweedy, Bridget Demetriou, and Dr Iain Dutia, Emma runs UQ’s highly successful ParaStart program, which employs high performance sport as a rehabilitation pathway for a diverse range of athletes, especially those with high support needs.
She is currently revelling in a joint position with UQ and the Queensland Academy of Sport, where she has become known as Australia’s “Secret Weapon” for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Centre news
Have a research idea?
ESSA Research Grants
ESSA Research Grants are open to all Australian-based investigators for research conducted in Australia. A Principal Investigator or a higher-degree research (HDR) student on the team must be a financial member of ESSA to be eligible to apply.
ESSA Application Form and Grants Guide
Research ideas
Contact us at cops@uq.edu.au if you have an idea for Olympic or Paralympic related research.
Contact
Partner with us
The Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies invites you to collaborate. Do you have a project proposal or wish to consult with our experts? Contact us by sending an email to cops@uq.edu.au.
Media
The Centre’s experts are available to comment on a range of Olympic and Paralympic topics. For any media enquiries, contact us by sending an email to communications@uq.edu.au.
Enquiries
Email: cops@uq.edu.au
Media enquiries
Email: communications@uq.edu.au
