Aspetar's Pioneering High Altitude Conference Concludes

Doha, March 25 (QNA) - Aspetar Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital's ground-breaking Altitude Training and Team Sports Conference concluded. The two-day symposium was designed for experts who are interested in enhancing performance levels in team-sport players through altitude training reflects Doha's position as the Middle East's sport capital. The conference, which brought together a multitude of athletes, coaches, sport scientists, and a panel of international experts from around the globe, provided a platform to present and discuss cutting edge research in the field of altitude training, as well as facilitate collaboration efforts. Dr Michel D'Hooghe, Chairman of the Medical Committee of FIFA, addressed the audience during the opening session on Sunday, with an opening speech titled: 'FIFA Medical Vision Concerning Playing Football and Altitude.' Alongside providing a brief introduction to FIFA and addressing the current altitude challenges of today, D'Hooghe expressed his delight at being able to attend the conference, "It is an absolute pleasure to be back in Doha, and back at Aspetar. I am very grateful to be back at this world class hospital where such fantastic scientific work goes on." He also discussed the 2022 FIFA World Cup, praising the institution, "There is an enormous amount of scientific knowledge at Aspetar. There are a multitude of fantastic doctors who specialise in various fields of sports medicine, and this will be a tremendous help to the 2022 FIFA World Cup - to both the 32 doctors of the federations and the athletes. Aspetar has all the expertise and the facilities necessary for the correct treatment of football players." A selection of topics were presented during the conference that discussed the potential benefits of team-sports adopting altitude training methods. These ranged from 'Determinants of Team-Sport Performance: Implications for Altitude Training of Team-Sport Athletes' and 'Timing of Competition after Return from Altitude Training' to 'Is Training Beneficial for Performance?'. In addition, the conference presented the Mobile Hypoxic Inflatable Simulation Equipment. The simulator is ideal for countries that are at sea level, as it mimics training at high altitudes without athletes needing to travel to high altitude areas. One of only four in the world, it is not only the largest but it is also the first in the Middle East. There will be a comprehensive demonstration for media tomorrow Tuesday at 11 in Aspire Dome. The conference also demonstrated Aspetar's ongoing dedication to the development of young professionals. PhD students and post-doctoral fellows were encouraged to submit abstracts on the effects of chronic exposure to altitude on match-related performance in team sport athletes prior to the gathering. Eight winners were then selected to attend the sessions. Aspetar has a proven track of regularly hosting world-class events. Not only do they reflect Aspetar's commitment to developing research within the sports medicine field, but they also give local athletes a first-hand look at internationally recognised innovative programmes. In particular the success of the first Environmental Physiology conference titled 'Exercise in hot environments: from basic concepts to field applications', which was held in 2009, spurred the current Altitude Training and Team Sports Conference. Aspetar is the world's leading specialised Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine hospital and the first in the Middle East. Based in Doha, Qatar, since 2007, the hospital provides top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the art facility that sets new standards internationally. In 2009 Aspetar was officially accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence (F-MARC). (QNA)