A Government-funded centre established following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation has facilitated over a million clinical appointments and generated more than £65 million in research funding.

The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) was established as part of the legacy of London 2012, funded by a £30m investment from the Department of Health.

The NCSEM is a collaboration between universities, healthcare trusts, local authorities and private and voluntary sector organisations based around three regional hubs – Sheffield, East Midlands and London.

Its mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation through sport, exercise, and physical activity, bridging the gap between clinical practice and public health.

As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games get underway, the NSCEM has published a report outlining the significant positive impact it has had on the health and wellbeing of communities across the country since it was established 12 years ago.

Highlights of the NCSEM’s achievements since 2012 include:

Over £65 million in research funding which is exploring the ways physical activity and nutrition can positively benefit our health and quality of life

Supporting clinicians and healthcare professionals to deliver more than one million clinical appointments

Supporting the education and training of current and future healthcare professionals through 38,000 professional development opportunities

Some of the key projects led by the NCSEM include the Advanced BRAIN Health Clinic at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) which launched in 2022. Led by Professor David Sharp and Dr Richard Sylvester, this specialist pathway offers a unique provision of clinical care combined with elite sport research. It includes advanced imaging, biomarker analysis and neurocognitive assessment for retired elite rugby and football players. The clinic has assessed 58 footballers and 199 rugby players.

The London hub is based at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH). Professor Fares Haddad (Director of ISEH) said: “The last 12 years have seen the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health flourish in partnership with our colleagues in the Midlands and in Sheffield and has seen impactful developments across all National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine partners. We have seen growth in research, in education, in clinical service delivery, and in the translation of our work to improve the health of our population. It has been a wonderful journey that will leave a lasting Olympic legacy.”

Another key project led by the NCSEM in Sheffield is Move More Empowered Communities, which was designed to create the conditions to help people and communities move more where they live. The project aimed to support voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations across Sheffield work with communities with the lowest levels of physical activity. The aim was to work with these communities to understand what works to enable physical activity at a local level, what factors affect this, and ultimately enable more people to be active in ways and places that suit them.

The Sheffield hub is based at Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) located at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Dr Marlize De Vivo, of the NCSEM Sheffield, said: “We are incredibly proud of the progress and impact of our initiatives here in Sheffield. By working closely with system partners and local communities, we have created environments that make it easier for people to move more. Our focus on strategic partnerships, a whole system approach, and innovative research has enabled us to make a tangible difference in the lives of Sheffield’s residents.”

Supported by the East Midlands NCSEM Hub, the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) will transform outcomes for people who have suffered potentially life-changing injury, trauma or illness, by fully integrating research, innovation, education and training with clinical practice.

The £105 million government-funded centre is due to open in summer 2025 and is supported by Loughborough University and the University of Nottingham with clinical services led by the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The East Midlands Hub is based at Loughborough University. Professor Mark Lewis (Director NCSEM East Midlands) said: “I would like to extend my thanks to all the NCSEM partners for their hard work and enthusiasm over the past twelve years. The results presented in this report really demonstrate the impact the NCSEM has had in integrating research, education and clinical services to accelerate the translation of scientific research into new models of healthcare provision.”

To find out more about the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine click here