Information about a piece of news titled OSTRC officially recognized as one of the IOC’s 4 Research Centers
OSTRC officially recognized as one of the IOC’s 4 Research Centers
Intoduction
On June 18h, distinguished representatives from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Canadian sports and culture were gathered for the inauguration of the 4 IOC Research Centers.
During a glittering reception and ceremony, the certificate was awarded to two representatives from each of the four IOC sites – in Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Norway.
Another 3 year funding guaranteed
The IOC supports established research centers that have demonstrated clinical, educational, and research expertise in elite sports, by giving them an annually grant of CHF 100.000.
As a welcome gift, this designation will last for another 3 years annual research grant.
“A key part of the grant is meant to foster collaboration with the four centers internationally. The IOC wants to put a major thrust behind prevention of injury and the protection of the athlete´s health. The annually funding is meant to be a catalyst” said Lars Engebretsen and Patrick Schamasch from the IOC Medical Commission.
In Calgary, researchers from the University of Calgary, the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, the Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion at the University of Monash in Australia, and the University of Cape Town’s Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit met to discuss new projects that could impact the health of athletes worldwide.
Improve athlete´s health and prevent injuries
Under the Head of Scientific Activities, Professor Lars Engebretsen, the IOC wants to promote injury and disease prevention and the improvement of physical health of the athlete by:
- Establishing long-term research programs on injury and disease prevention (including studies on basic epidemiology, risk factors, injury mechanisms and intervention).
- Fostering collaborative relationships with individuals, institutions and organizations to improve athletes’ health
- Implementing (and collaborating with) applied, ongoing and novel research and development within the framework and long-term strategy of the IOC
- Setting up knowledge translation mechanisms to share scientific research results with the field throughout the Olympic Movement and sports community and to convert these results into concrete actions to protect the health of the athletes
In the absence of Professor Roald Bahr, Dr. Grethe Myklebust and Dr. Kathrin Steffen represented the OSTRC in Calgary.