University News Last updated 05 June
As part of Volunteer Week 2026, Birmingham City University (BCU) today congratulated 50 students who will play a vital role in the delivery of the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships by taking on a range of volunteer roles.
The students, from a range of courses. will get involved with roles including media operations, operations, hospitality, accessibility, ticketing, broadcasting, events presentation and more, and will be based at the iconic Alexander Stadium for the duration of the Championships in August.
Biomedical Science student Oluchi Chukwuma will take a Steward Role: "I decided to apply to be a volunteer to give back to my community and because I've always been a fan of sports.
"I love that BCU is partnering with the championships. As an international student, I've always seen the university as an inclusive, diverse place, and it celebrates togetherness," he said.
Oluchi added, "In my role as a volunteer, I am keen to improve my skill set, like working better in a team and my communication skills. Being a Steward, I will need to make the experience great for both athletes and visitors.
"I'm so excited to see international championships, especially the races, which I love! Coming from a different continent, and working with people from all backgrounds, will be a fantastic experience for me."
Rehan Hussain from the Working with Children, Young People and Families BA (Hons) course, is taking on an Accessibility Volunteering Role commenting: "In my accessibility role, I will be helping people to get in and around the stadium. I applied because I like helping people, and meeting new people too, and opportunities like this will help to take career to the next level.
"BCU partnering with Birmingham 2026 is a major opportunity for students. I can't wait to get started and help make the visitor's days better and easier."
In addition to the volunteer roles, BCU students will also be undertaking some paid roles and specially designed placement opportunities with departments including operations, commercial, media including press, photography and social media, and athlete services. These shadowing opportunities will see students spend up to 5 days with a specific department, supporting their future career development.
"A key aspect driving our partnership with Birmingham 2026 was to create exciting opportunities for our students," said Laura Smith, Associate Director Communications at BCU.
"These roles offer an incredible chance for them to gain experience working as part of a major international sporting event happening here in Birmingham this summer."
"Our role at Birmingham City University is to ‘develop talent for tomorrow’, helping equip students with the skills they need to for their future careers," Laura added.
"As the Official University Partner of the European Athletics Championships, we are very proud to be working with the Championship team to offer our students once in a lifetime opportunities that will help them with their future employability."
The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to creating a lasting legacy for the Championships. BCU will align with its own Beyonder brand to drive Birmingham 2026’s community engagement sustainable initiatives as part of the Championships’ Beyond 26 impact plan.
The partnership demonstrates BCU’s commitment to accelerating opportunities for staff and students and its role as an exemplar anchor institution in the region.
The European Athletics Championships will bring world-class athletes from across the continent to Birmingham from 10-16 August 2026. With European titles on the line, the competition is set to be one of the most exciting and prestigious sporting events of the year.
Book your tickets for the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships here.
Photo L-R: Tia-Simone Gould (Sports Therapy), Tarlochan Suraj Singh Dail (Sport Coaching and PE) and Shahbaz Iqba (MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition).