After a year-long postponent due to COVID-19, the Tokyo Olympic Games are going ahead in July 2021 – and USC experts are available to comment.
Academics can comment on topics from athlete nutrition to infectious disease management, high performance sport to Paralympic athletes.
The Tokyo Olympic Games will begin on Friday, July 23, with the opening ceremony at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium.
Available to comment to media, by request, are:
Associate Professor Geoff Lovell – full bio here. (USC Sunshine Coast)
Psychology
Research includes: Sport psychology; exercise psychology; sleep and human performance; exercise and mental health.
Professor Brendan Burkett – full bio here (USC Sunshine Coast)
High Performance Sport, biomechanics and exercise science
Director, High Performance Sport. Head Coach, Australian Paralympic Swim Team. Former Paralympic Champion, World Champion, World Record holder, Commonwealth Games and Australian multiple medallist.
Dr Bridie Kean – full bio here. (USC Sunshine Coast)
Public Health
Bridie’s research has explored environmental determinants toward success in high performance and community-based para-sport. Her research and own experience as a Paralympic athlete create an applied approach to research in the para-sport context.
Dr Kean was also involved in the bid for Brisbane to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Professor Fiona Pelly – full bio here. (USC Sunshine Coast)
Nutrition and dietetics
Fiona is internationally recognised for her expertise in food provision at major sporting competition events and has evaluated the menu and food provision for the Olympic and Commonwealth Games since 2000.
Dr Peter English – full bio here. (USC Sunshine Coast)
Journalism
Peter’s chief research area is sports journalism, with an emphasis on its journalists, content, and social media.
Dr Rob Buhmann – full bio here. (USC Sunshine Coast)
Exercise Science (Motor Control)
Research includes hamstring strain injury, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, electrical stimulation of muscle, sports medicine.
Matt Mason – full bio here. (USC Sunshine Coast)
Nursing
Matt's interests are in infection prevention and control outside of the large hospital setting, emergency management and clinical governance. He comments on COVID-19 public health approaches with a particular interest in social justice and the disparity in pandemic response and recovery approaches globally. He is co-director of the Collaboration for the Advancement of Infection Prevention and Control (www.caipc.global) and a technical advisor to the WHO Global Outbreak, Alert and Response Network (GOARN).
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Dr Levi Durbidge – full bio here. (USC Sunshine Coast)
World languages and Japanese studies
Levi has nearly two decades experience working with educational institutions in Japan.
His research explores language learning and use, with a focus on populations travelling to and from Japan.
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