The quadrennial event is widely recognised as one of the premier continental conferences in the field of sports medicine, reflecting the AFC’s view that medical education is a valuable tool in the development of sports and healthcare for athletes. It brings together worldwide experts to share their knowledge and Aspetar is participating for the third year in a row.

Nine experts from Aspetar, led by the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jan Ekstrand, took part in several sessions and workshops this year. They shared their knowledge on a variety of topics, ranging from the challenges in diagnosis and management of hamstring, groin and knee injuries to best practice in the assessment of players recovering from injuries, leveraging Aspetar’s vast experience and its prestigious position as a FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence.

Aspetar’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jan Ekstrand, said of the event:

Our speakers delivered more than 20 presentations and workshops. We are proud to be one of the main supporters of this conference. Our mission at Aspetar is to help athletes achieve their maximum performance and full potential, which aligns perfectly with the AFC’s view that medical education is a valuable tool for player development, and we are looking forward to hosting the seventh edition in 2022.

Beyond the conference, the AFC and Aspetar are partnering on several projects, including the initiation of the AFC/Aspetar Injury and Illness Surveillance Study in 2017 and a series of separate medical conferences and workshops.

As the first FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence accredited in the Middle East, Aspetar’s partnership with the AFC has enabled major advances in the treatment and care of Asian footballers. This includes the development of football medicine, applied research and player education across the continent, supporting players from grassroots to international elite level.

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”. 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.