AFC PRESIDENT
Dear friends,
In the last three years, the world has had to cope with the pandemic and like many industries, our beloved sport was also affected.
As the world strives to recover and slowly return to normalcy, we must remember the dedication and sacrifices of all medical practitioners who played their part when the world needed them the most.
The pandemic has taught us the importance of medical research and how medicine plays a crucial role in our lives, on and off the football pitch.
Following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Continent’s top sports science and medical practitioners will gather for the 7th AFC Medical Conference in the from March 2 - 3, 2023.
The AFC Medical Conference has grown tremendously in the last two decades and it is now an eagerly anticipated event for medical practitioners across the world of sport.
The conference is the ideal platform for renowned medical experts to share the latest information, development and research in sports science. It is also an opportunity for participants to learn and discuss best practices for the benefit of our footballers and the sport.
On behalf of the medical fraternity in Asia, I must thank the Qatar Football Association and Aspetar, our long-standing partner, for hosting the 7th AFC Medical Conference and sharing the AFC’s ambitions to highlight the importance of sports science and, as outlined in our Vision, the role it plays in ensuring the success of Asian players and teams.
This comprehensive conference will welcome top specialists and physicians who are leaders in their medical fields and it will present a unique opportunity for the participants to be actively involved in dialogue on the latest challenges, issues and cutting-edge developments in sports medicine.
Finally, to all our speakers and participants, I look forward to your contributions at the 7th AFC Medical Conference Qatar 2022 and I hope you will benefit from this and use the knowledge to safeguard the health and improve the performances of our footballers.
Thank you.
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
AFC President
AFC MEDICAL COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
Dear Colleagues,
The unprecedented nature of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years has affected all aspects of our lives including football participation. And, many of us answered the call of duty as medical practitioner to curtail the spread of the infection, as well as discharging the responsibility to protect and improve the performance of our footballers as football continues to stage a return.
Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup this year and fittingly the 7th AFC Medical Conference in 2023 too, with the theme Football and Sports Medicine - "Celebrating Diversity”.
Times have changed and with the evolution of football participation at the highest level, the care of players has become both demanding and complex, hence the need to seek new directions via evidence-based research and practices.
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At the Conference, renowned speakers who are experts in their medical fields will focus on various topics including women’s football, youth, mental health and abuse, as well as contentious topics with limited science.
These high-level presentations and inter-active workshops do provide ample opportunities for participants to receive the latest information and best medical practices to enhance and polish their practical skills in football science and medicine.
My sincere appreciation goes out to the Qatar Football Association and Aspetar, the first FIFA and AFC Medical Centre of Excellence for graciously hosting the AFC Medical Conference.
I am confident that participants will leave Qatar with fond memories following the successful Conference and return to their countries with better knowledge and skills in sports medicine that will benefit footballers and the sport.
I look forward to meeting you in Qatar.
Thank you
Dato' Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Chairman, AFC Medical Committee
QFA GENERAL SECRETARY
Dear distinguished guests, colleagues, and friends,
On behalf of the Qatar Football Association President and the QFA Executive Committee, I would like to welcome you to your second home, Doha. It is a privilege and my great pleasure to be able to host all of you to the 7th AFC Medical Conference with the theme “Football and Sports Medicine – Celebrating Diversity”, I am trilled to be able to host it in Doha.
Due to unprecedented pandemic suffered 2020, which is still latent but poses no threat, most meetings and conferences planned for the last two years were either cancelled or postponed, and only a few were held virtually. However, the future looks promising and 2022 and 2023 will be unforgettable years for Qatar and the rest of the world, full of exciting events. It gives me great joy knowing that we will able to host this prestigious conference in March 2023.
First and foremost, I would like to thank all participants, attendees, partners, and sponsors for their contribution in making this a unique, memorable event.
The field of sports medicine is of great importance as it ensures the safety and security of the sport. One of the wonderful aspects about the AFC Medical Conference is the international perspective our members bring to these discussions, showcasing the caliber of our panel of speakers and attendees alike. Sharing this vast knowledge and expertise from professionals from all over the world is unparallel.
Moreover, the AFC Medical Conference will provide exclusive insights into the most up-to-date trends in the field of sports medicine and provide a forum for new research results in this field. The interdisciplinary orientation of the event will serve to deepen existing, but also to create new synergies between the different sports medicine fields, whether football medicine, conditioning, physiotherapy, etc.
The Qatar Football Association is keen to work very closely with the AFC in hosting and delivering significant events in Qatar. Along with the leadership of Aspetar, I am confident that the AFC Medical Conference will be a major success. Asia is a vast Continent, and sports medicine is a constantly evolving discipline, so we must continue to expand our knowledge to ensure that more players can gain greater access to the highest standards of medical attention
and treatment.
Finally, the delivery of this event will be a joint effort, and as such I cannot forget to acknowledge and thank my fellow colleagues from AFC Medical, Aspetar, and the members of my team, who are all putting their heart towards the success of this conference. We take great pride in Qatar for our hospitality, and I invite you all to enjoy the culture and traditions of Qatar.
Once again, I would like to welcome you to the State of Qatar, and I hope that your week will be fruitful with lots of knowledge and expertise exchanged.
Mr. Mansoor Mohammed Al-Ansari
QFA General Secretary
AZF CEO & ASPETAR DIRECTOR GENERAL
Dear distinguished guests and colleagues,
It is an honour to welcome you to the opening of the 7th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Conference here in Doha, in the State of Qatar. We are excited for this edition of this most important medical education event.
Aspire Zone Foundation is committed to football, football infrastructure, the development of young football athletes, football medicine, research, and education, and therefore the privilege of hosting this conference is our honour.
Aspetar has worked closely with the AFC with the intent of raising the bar on a global perspective, to illustrate the importance of research, football medicine expertise, and practices that will help support all football clubs to perform at the highest level.
We hope that the expertise shared over these few days will even the playing field so that all participants can learn and apply evidence-based football medicine practices and research that the many distinguished scheduled speakers will present.
We want to share our appreciation for all those involved from the AFC, in partnership with Aspetar and QFA, in making the 7th AFC Medical Conference what we believe will be a great success as a follow up to the biggest event on the world stage of football – the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Best wishes for a wonderful conference,
Mr. Mohammed Khalifa Al Suwaidi
AZF CEO & Aspetar Director General
ASPETAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)
Dear colleagues and friends,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome each of you to the 7th AFC Medical Conference in Qatar. The theme of this year’s event is “Football and Sports Medicine – Celebrating Diversity”.
Aspetar is part of the greater Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) and I am grateful to Aspetar for their commitment to this important educational event that very much places the AFC, QFA, and Aspetar as global reference centres in football and sports medicine - and their practice on this important stage.
On behalf of Aspetar, we look forward to welcoming the many invited guests and experts in the field of football and sports medicine to give us their insights on the latest research and implemented practices.
With the conference taking place after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we hope that it acts as an opportunity for every participant and conference guest to continue to lift their game through sharing the knowledge gained during the tournament.
To that end, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aspetar, QFA, and the AFC organising teams for all their efforts in making this conference a success.
In 2009, Aspetar was designated as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence and in 2020, it was with great pride that we became an AFC Medical Centre of Excellence. We understand the importance of each relationship and what comes with being so honoured: a commitment to football, medicine for the football athlete, football medicine research, and world class education such as this conference. We and our partners in QFA and the AFC are up to the challenge.
We hope you enjoy your time at this conference and in Doha, Qatar.
Dr Abdulaziz Jaham Al Kuwari
CEO Aspetar
