To help coaches, health professionals, physicians and researchers the event included key note lectures, expert panel discussions and workshops designed to share insights and solutions for the key nutritional issues facing both Arabic and non-Arabic athletes today. These included: overcoming challenges of accessing safe supplementation in the Gulf, minimising effects of fasting on athlete performance and tendon injury, hydration and performance in the heat. It also analysed the role of Sports Science and sports nutrition during major sports events, a key consideration as Qatar prepares for FIFA World Cup 2022.

Prominent international and regional experts from Aspetar’s sports nutrition unit took part in the event. Speakers included Professor Keith Baar, the acclaimed researcher from University California Davis on training and nutrition modifications to enhance muscle, tendon function and repair. Overseas participants from the UK also included Mark Ellison, Performance Nutritionist to Manchester United FC and World Heavy Weight Champion boxer Anthony Joshua and Dr Laurent Bannock from the hugely successful Guru Performance Institute

The symposium also featured Dr Marco Cardinale from Aspire Academy who previously led Sport Science for the British Olympic Team at Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012.

About Aspetar:

Aspetar is a world leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.

In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence” by F-MARC. In 2013, Aspetar was adopted as a reference collaborator centre by the Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council and “IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014.

In 2015, Aspetar has been recognised as the “IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health”. In the same year, the hospital also achieved the obtained on December 15 the Accreditation Canada International (ACI) “Platinum Level”.

Aspetar is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.