U-M experts available to discuss London, the 2012 Olympic Games

July 24, 2012
Contact:

ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan experts are available to speak to reporters and producers about London, sport management, international security, gender, advertising and other topics related to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

They include:

Scott Campbell, associate professor of communication studies and the Pohs Professor of Telecommunications, can discuss the role of social media at the Olympics, including how the International Olympic Committee will monitor Facebook and Twitter posts. He can be reached at (734) 764-8106 or swcamp@umich.edu.

Susan Douglas, professor of communication studies, is an expert on gender in the media. She can talk about how female athletes are depicted and the over-emphasis on American athletes to the exclusion of those from other countries. She can be reached at sdoug@umich.edu.

Dan Ferris, professor of kinesiology and physical medicine and rehabilitation, served as host to an international kinesiology meeting at U-M before the Beijing Olympics. It had members of three panels review South African runner Oscar Pistorius’ capabilities and whether or not he had an advantage as a sprinter due to his use of special prosthesis over non-amputees and his bid to participate in the 2008 Olympics. He can be reached at (734) 834-0379 or ferrisdp@umich.edu.

Joel Heidelbaugh, a family physician and urologist who provides primary care, is an international expert in issues related to men’s health. He can be reached at (734) 482-6221 or jheidel@med.umich.edu.

Jeffrey Kutcher directs the Michigan Neurosport Concussion Program, which specializes in treating athletes with these injuries and increasing awareness about concussions with athletes, parents and coaches. Kutcher, associate professor of neurology at the U-M Medical School, can discuss how Olympic sports bring with them the potential for concussions and injuries that have left some athletes with lifelong problems. He testified in October before a U.S. Senate committee on the safety of football helmets. Here’s a video of his patient Spencer Helgren, a high school football player, who had suffered tremendously after a couple of bad hits on the field: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ihBpP8j1i. For interviews with Kutcher, contact Kara Gavin at (734) 764-2220 or kegavin@umich.edu.

Amy Miller, a family physician and sports medicine doctor, is a team physician who sees U-M athletes in every sport. She can be contacted at (734) 764-0531 or amybohn@umich.edu.

Christie Nordhielm, clinical associate professor at the Ross School of Business, is a world-renowned consultant and speaker, whose expertise is in strategic marketing and advertising. She can be contacted at (734) 615-3348 or cnord@umich.edu.

Phil Potter, assistant professor of public policy, studies and teaches in the areas of international security and American foreign policy. His research interests also include the impact of public opinion and media on foreign policy. He can be reached at (734) 615-6905 or pbkp@umich.edu.

Stefan Szymanski, the Stephen J. Galetti Professor of Sport Management, is a Londoner who has studied the business and economics of sports for more than 20 years. He’s part of a research team conducting a major study on well-being and London 2012. Szymanski, co-director of the Michigan Center for Sport Management, has been an external reviewer for the government funded assessment of London 2012. He can discuss all aspects of economic impact and the legacy of the games. He also explains in this video why governments compete for sporting events like the Olympics and the World Cups: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNhLXKgka8. He can be reached at stefansz@umich.edu. For more information: www.kines.umich.edu/profile/stefan-szymanski-ph.