100 participants for four-day seminar on sports medicine

The MOC Medical Commission recently hosted a four-day seminar to raise awareness on the importance of understanding sports medicine practices.

The seminar saw the participation of local medical personnel who through their practices are involved with and attend to athletes and individuals who enjoy sport.

Sport injuries is an area where those involved need to have a better understanding of, to ensure that the treatment is applied correctly.

The seminar was attended by over 100 participants including foreign delegates from the European Olympic Committee Medical Commission and executive members of the European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations (EFSMA).

Among the speakers in the opening session was Kirill Micallef Stafrace, chairman of the MOC Medical Commission, who focused on the issues of obesity management. He was followed by leading expert and EFSMA chairman Fabio Pigozzi who gave an overview of Sports Medicine as a field of practice.

The session was then concluded by Medical Programmes Manager Susan Greining from the International Olympic Committee. She explained the role and function of the IOC Medical Commission.

The opening addresses were made by Dr Micallef Stafrace and MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco.

The second day continued with other lectures by Prof. Pigozzi, Greining and Emin Ergen, a sports medicine specialist and head of Sports Health and Anti-Doping Commission within the Turkish National Olympic Committee since 1994.

Day Three included a practical workshop involving all participants for a special technique of taping the knee, devised by Andre Debruyne.

Prof. Debruyne is an accompanying physician to a number of top athletes including Stefan Everts, 10-times world champion in motocross, and Luc van Lierde, two-times winner of the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii.

The seminar also covered topics on Team Malta's preparations for the Olympic Games.

Lucienne Attard and Milos Stanisavljevic, team doctor and physio respectively, talked on the subject.

Other lectures were delivered by leading experts including Ivan Esposito, Aaron Formosa, David Attard, Clive Bezzina, John Xerri de Caro, Olga Fedotkina Galea and Danica Spiteri.

At the close of the seminar Joseph Cassar, MOC Secretary General, and Dr Micallef Stafrace thanked those present for their response and attendance. All participants were given IOC-recognised attendance certificates.

The next MOC seminar is scheduled for September and will focus on subjects relating to Women and Sport.