International Sports Medicine Conference in Colombo

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The 2012 Sports Medicine Conference of the Asian Region will be held in Colombo from August 24 to 26 2012 at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Independence Avenue, Colombo.

Sri Lanka Sports Medicine Association (SLSMA), Ministry of Sports, National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka and Asian Federation of Sports Medicine (AFSM) organize the event under the theme, "Enhancing Health and Sports Performance with Global Trends in Sports Medicine". The conference will be attended by a large contingent of intellectuals from the USA, Australia, Europe, South Africa and Asia.

The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of the SLSMA and also the Jubilee year of NOC, Sri Lanka. Lectures, seminars, workshops and practical demonstrations in many aspects of sports medicine covering muscular skeletal injuries, athlete medical conditions, NCD's , physiotherapy and rehabilitation with hands - on workshops on Taping and Anit Doping are among the agenda during the two day event.

The NOC, Sri Lanka in collaboration with WADA will emphasize the need for the acute awareness of Anti Doping principles at the grass root levels of athletes and all doctors in the region.

In addition to the academic and scientific components of the event, the organizers have lined up cultural events and some site seeing tours for the foreign participants.

There will be two other significant events. The executive committee meeting of AFSM - Colombo and the celebration of the 20th anniversary of SLSMA. The knowledge of Sports Medicine among doctors and other sports related individuals has become very important in the development of sport. Sports Medicine has become an essential integral discipline in modern sports.

The sports ministry media unit revealed that Medical Doctors, Physiotherapists, Sports Scientists, Sports Physiologists, Sports Nutritionists, Sports Bio-mechanics, Sports Trainers, Coaches and other Allied Health professionals from sports and related fields will take part in this conference.

The topics subjected to for discussion also include - sports medicine and sports science, physical activity and health promotion, sports screening, sports and exercise physiology, sports bio-mechanics, sports specific illnesses and injury, sports physiotherapy and rehabilitation, special population in sports, doping and anti doping measures, sports equipment and technology, the Sports Ministry said.