Pakistan hosts IOC Olympic Solidarity Seminar titled ‘Sports Medicine and Protection of Clean Athletes’
By ;Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has hold a special seminar on ‘Sports Medicine and Protection of Clean Athletes’ with funding from the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Solidarity Commission. President, POA, Lt. Gen (R) Syed Arif Hasan inaugurated the two day event. He briefed about the sport nutrition, training methodology, bio-mechanics and sexual harassment in sports fraternity. He stated that. “The prime objective of this seminar is to make athletes aware about global challenges and trends in issues related to Sports Medicine and safe sport. This seminar will help in protecting athletes from hazards like doping and drug abuse and to create a culture of clean athletes, he added. ‘’In addition it will impart a special focus on sport nutrition and sexual harassment in sports fraternity, he, said. The Sports Professionals including doctors, scientists, athletes, journalists, and coaches attended the two days seminar in Islamabad. The seminar covered topics including sports genetics, sports biomechanics, body composition, sports nutrition and sports psychology The Olympic Solidarity Commission assists National Olympic Committees (NOCs) across the globe by providing funding and special programmes to support athlete development. They also offer subsidies for any NOC’s struggling to cover the cost of attending an Olympic Games. The IOC Olympic Solidarity seminar on ‘Sports Medicine and Protection of Clean Athletes’ purpose was to educate and raise awareness among athletes on the global challenges and trends in issues related to sports medicine and safe sports. This particular seminar will educate athletes on hazards, such as doping and drug abuse, and aims to create a culture of clean sports. In addition, it will impart a special focus on sports nutrition and sexual harassment in sports fraternities.POA secretary Khalid Mehmood, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Deputy Director General Mansoor Ahmed, Director National Sports Federations Azam Dar, Dr Waqar Ahmed and officials of federations, coaches and athletes were also present on tow day seminar.“It is important to note that the IOC president has tasked all National Olympic Committees on the need to use their respective medical commissions as channels for educating their athletes.The speakers while addressing at two day seminar urged the participants to use the seminar to chat a way forward in sports medicine “We are tasked as sports officials on healthy sporting lifestyles using sports or physical activity as a tool with a goal of protecting clean athletes in support of Agenda 2020.“Educational programmes of this nature are critical in ensuring that key stakeholders of our sports are not left out of emerging global trends in sports medicine management and administration.“There is need therefore, for active collaboration of efforts by all to ensure safe delivery of the objectives as we will continue to work hard for continuous promotion of noble Olympic ideals,’’ they said.
The speakers, called for more sensitization among the practitioners and inclusiveness of sports medicine.“We need to move from where we are now to the next level of sports medicine. We need new ideas, equipment and solutions to sports medicine.“There is need for more state in the federation to have their separate sports medicine.
“Sports medicine takes the front seat in the development of sports and it is critical, so we need more efforts in this regard to drive it to the hearts of all,’’ they stated.
The Deputy Director General Pakistan Sports Board and Head of Sports medicine programme in Pakistan, Dr Waqar Ahmed called for more synergy between the athletes and the sports medicine practitioners.“The sport medicine practitioners, physiotherapists and sportsmen must work in concert for the development of the game. “Sports medicine practitioners give adequate information and advice to the athletes on what they need to know about drugs, nutrition and care. Athletes must not work in isolation.
“Athletes need information on nutrition that can make them healthy and the simple treatment they need to observe in case of injury and other things, he added.