Thanks to the support of donors, the Acer Nethercott Sports Centre will play a key role in enabling students to lead active and healthy lives.
'I've been playing basketball since I was 11,' says recent graduate Alejandro Prescott-Cornejo. 'I had heard that it wasn't a particularly popular sport here in the UK, but thankfully my best friend, Melissa, pushed me to pursue it. I tried out for the team, got on, and it turned out to be one of the best basketball experiences of my life.'
Originally from Canada, Alejandro came to Oxford last year to study for a Master's of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management. Whilst here, he had the opportunity to play in the Acer Nethercott Sports Centre, the University's new state-of-the-art sporting facility. 'The atmosphere in the new hall is great,' he says. 'It's got such a professional vibe, which really helped to focus the team.'
Sport and exercise are vital components for good physical and mental health, and are particularly important in high-pressure, high-achieving academic environments. For Alejandro, playing basketball gave him the opportunity he needed to refresh and reinvigorate both body and mind. 'I was thrust into a programme of study that was completely different to anything I'd ever experienced before. Sport was a great way to de-stress,' he explains.
'The other major benefit was that I got to meet some great people,' he continues. 'You end up spending so much time with your teammates and coaching staff that they become your friends and your brothers.' Although Alejandro is now back in Canada, his experience will always remain with him. 'Basketball is very important to me, so I'm really pleased I was able continue playing during my time in the UK. I'll never forget it.'
More than 450 donors gave just over £4.3 million towards the Acer Nethercott Sports Centre, which opened in June 2018.