The two-day conference brings together leading multidisciplinary experts and professionals in the field of sports medicine from across the GCC to participate in a range of presentations, panel discussions and workshops on modern approaches to sports medicine and best practice in their respective countries.

Participants will also discuss the latest developments in the field of sports medicine, and consider new ways to enhance collaboration and information sharing to support continued, rapid progress at a regional and international level.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Mohammad Ghaith Al Kuwari, Acting Director General of Aspetar, said,

“Organising this conference reflects Aspetar’s profile the GCC reference centre in sports medicine. It also provides the ideal platform to share expertise amongst members of Olympic committees from the region in a range of disciplines including surgery, rehabilitation, injury prevention and approaches to enhancing sports performance.”

His Excellency Professor Dr. Tawfik bin Ahmad Khoja, Director General of the Health Ministers’ Council for GCC States, said:

“This conference should serve as a springboard for generating further interest in sports medicine in the GCC region. There is no doubt that Aspetar – an important GCC institution – is ideally placed to assume responsibility for organising this conference, based on its extensive expertise in sports medicine. Working closely with sports medicine professionals, Aspetar can play a pioneering role in enhancing physical activity in the community.”

Sessions from the first day covered the history and key milestones in the development of sports medicine in the GCC, as well as topics including approaches to preventing sudden cardiac death in athletes, the Aspetar athlete-screening model and a range of others.

The conference will continue until Sunday evening, and cover further topics including sports surgery, multidisciplinary care, sports rehabilitation, sports and exercise sciences, and more.