Loughborough University signs landmark partnership with Team England

Global sporting eventsSport
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(L-R) Mark Osikoya, Chief Executive Office, Commonwealth Games England, Professor Jo Maher, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport at Loughborough University, Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University,

Loughborough University has agreed a landmark partnership with Team England ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Games, returning to Glasgow for the first time since 2014, will bring together 3,000 athletes from across the Commonwealth to compete on the international sporting stage.

As an exclusive education sector partner, Loughborough’s logo will appear on all Team England podium kit, including medal ceremonies.

The University will also host Team England for its extensive immersion camps across multiple sports ahead of the Games.

In addition, Loughborough will welcome all Team England staff and athletes to campus for its Kitting Out events, where they will be provided with kit supplied by Kukri, including ceremonial wear, village, training and competition wear. 

The team will also stay at Burleigh Court Conference Centre and Hotel, and the Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel while at the University.

Professor Jo Maher, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport at Loughborough University, said: This is a historic moment for Loughborough University as it’s the first time in the Games' 95-year history that there will be visibility granted on podium wear for teams.

“Our relationship with Team England is long-standing and has developed significantly over several cycles. Our values are perfectly aligned with both organisations, known for sporting excellence and pushing boundaries.

“Many of Team England’s athletes, coaches and practitioners are familiar with our elite performance environment and accessible world-class facilities, so it is great to host them all on campus to foster further collaboration.

“We are delighted to confirm our partnership with Team England ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”

Mark Osikoya, Chief Executive Office, Commonwealth Games England, said: “Loughborough University has been a cornerstone of English sport for decades, and we’re proud to deepen our partnership ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Its world‑class facilities and expertise will play a vital role in preparing our athletes to perform at their best in Glasgow. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to excellence, innovation and creating the best possible environment for Team England to be Ready to Win this summer.”

Loughborough’s partnership with Team England also extends to the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games, which will take place in Malta.

The 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games will be held between 23 July – 2 August, with 3,000 athletes competing for 74 nations across 10 separate sports. The Games also boasts a fully integrated Para sports programme.

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Loughborough athletes on the global stage

Follow the successes of Loughborough-linked athletes who have been selected to represent their country.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 26/31

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.

Loughborough has been ranked seventh in the Complete University Guide 2026 – out of 130 institutions.

This milestone marks a decade in the top ten for Loughborough – a feat shared only by the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, St Andrews, Durham and Imperial.

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded eight Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.