Source: www.olympic.org
The 2011 IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport came to a successful conclusion on 9 April in Monaco.
The meetings, described by some as the most constructive yet for researchers in the field, were attended by 940 delegates from 85 countries and included 5 keynote lectures, 21 symposia, 39 workshops and 64 oral presentations.
The Conference was the first organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was attended by IOC members HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, IOC Medical Commission Chairman Prof. Arne Ljungqvist, and Dr Robin Mitchell.
Experts exchanged the latest news and advancements in the prevention of illness and injury in athletes; and several symposia on the implementation of the field’s current knowledge showed that the message and penetration are improving.
“Without fit and healthy athletes there would not be any exciting Olympic Games,” said Professor Ljungqvist. “They are our most cherished assets. It is, therefore, a top priority for the IOC to keep the athletes as healthy and as fit as possible.
“Thankfully, the number and quality of experts working in this field are impressive, and we can all see that we are making major strides in many areas. This all bodes well for athletes everywhere.”
A three-day Advanced Team Physician Course preceded the main Conference and was attended by 140 participants from 48 countries. The goal of the course was to provide knowledge and insight on sports medicine to National Olympic Committee (NOC) physicians.
One day was devoted to the work being undertaken by International Federations (IFs) and their chief medical officers, and the IOC was pleased to learn that the transfer of knowledge between the IFs is vibrant and transparent.
In addition, the Medical and Science group of the IOC Medical Commission held a half-day meeting to discuss their strategies for the protection of athletes and the use of sport to improve people’s health.
While there are many health benefits that can be derived from sport, there is also an inherent risk of injuries, especially at elite level. The IOC has initiated and supported research on various topics related to the health of athletes, with the ultimate goal being a significant reduction in injuries and illnesses.
The IOC records and analyses all athlete injuries and illnesses that occur in competition and/ or training at the Olympic Games to gain further knowledge about the effectiveness and weaknesses of existing prevention programmes.