A university based near the site of the London Olympics plans to offer would-be sports journalists the chance to experience the 2012 games at first hand.

The University of East London, which will also serve as a pre-Games training camp for London 2012, is to launch a new sports journalism degree next month.

UEL’s Docklands campus is four miles away from the Olympic stadium at Stratford, and even closer to the Olympic venues at the O2, Excel and Greenwich.

It says the new degree will offer students the practical and academic knowledge to develop into sports reporters and sports industry analysts.

“Sports journalism students will be at the heart of 2012 and the London Olympics, experiencing first-hand how the Olympics can impact on a major World city,” said programme leader Maxine Newlands.

“They will study at the only university to offer a degree in sports journalism within the five host Olympic boroughs.”

As well as supplying match reports and interviews with athletes, students on the course will examine issues such as how sport combines the pursuit of excellence with multi-billion dollar business strategies.

“Teaching and learning in this branch of journalism can allow for an exploration of wider cultural and social changes,” added Maxine.