Sophie Kharileh, Candidate for Sports Officer
Joining a sports club (we have over 60!) can be a great way to pursue passions and build strong friendships. Every year, we have thousands of new students eager to get involved and the Sports Officer plays an important role in being the voice of these students. As a Sports Officer, you will be given the opportunity to develop and approve new clubs, plan and deliver events as well as allocate funding, all while working closely with Students’ Union staff. You’d also ensure that BLSA sports clubs and the Students’ Union maintain strong communication so that everything runs smoothly!
What's your favourite moment from being a student here?
My favorite moment was playing our netball match in Merger last year. It was such an anticipated event since it was cancelled in my first year (I’m now intercalating in Sports and Exercise Medicine). The support from so many students watching us play and the atmosphere during our match is something I’ll never be able to replicate. The feeling of representing Barts was surreal and inspired me to run for Sports Officer this year. I would love for everyone to have this same experience and feel included in the festivities of Merger.
What's something you've done that you're proud of?
I’m proud of completing the Three Peaks Challenge at age 16. There were points during Ben Nevis (the first peak) where I questioned my abilities to hike all three peaks in 24 hours, especially after a busy season of cheerleading and athletics. However, when I completed it in 22 hours, I gained so much confidence in my athletic capabilities. It also encouraged me to pursue hiking more and plan to train for Kilimanjaro, which I aimed to complete in 2020. Sadly, that trip was cancelled due to Covid, but I’m hoping to squeeze it into a summer soon!
What is a problem facing students and how do you propose to fix it?
To be fully integrated in the community of Barts, it feels like students really need to be involved in a sports club. After being on netball committee for three years, it was hard to make everyone feel represented in the club. These problems have also been raised by members of other sports, who often feel misrepresented or an outsider of a social group. I always make an effort to be present as an ethnic minority myself and make everyone feel welcome, regardless of their year or team. I aim to continue this as Sports Officer and encourage more diversity in sports committees. My primary goal is to represent smaller clubs as they are often underrepresented in Club Sport Board. Through my position in BL Sailing, I have found that these clubs enable a small community environment and deserve more support.
