tag

Aspetar on Saturday concluded its 2025 World Conference on Sports Medicine with a successful closing ceremony at the Aspire Dome. The event attracted over 1,000 participants globally and featured discussions on the latest innovations and trends shaping the future of sports medicine.Khalid Ali al-Mawlawi, Acting Director General of Aspetar, announced the dates for the hospital’s upcoming major scientific gatherings, including the Sports Rehabilitation Conference in 2026 and the second edition of the Aspetar World Conference on Sports Medicine in 2027, which will coincide with Aspetar’s 20th anniversary celebration. Al-Mawlawi encouraged professionals worldwide to prepare and participate in these future events, reaffirming Aspetar’s commitment to advancing sports medicine globally.Conference Chairman Dr. Abdulaziz Jaham al-Kuwari, in his closing remarks, emphasized the importance of fostering international collaboration and continuous innovation in sports medicine to enhance athlete health and performance. He highlighted the conference as a unique platform for exchanging scientific expertise and advancing innovative medical and technological solutions for injury prevention and athlete safety.The organizing committee expressed its gratitude to all participants and attendees, reaffirming Aspetar’s ongoing leadership and dedication to advancing sports medicine worldwide.The scientific program of the last day of the conference featured distinguished speakers and session leaders. Dr. Celeste Geertsema addressed medical challenges in extreme environments and best practices for athlete safety. Professor Dave Collins from the United Kingdom explored psychological aspects of athlete rehabilitation, emphasizing innovative mental strategies for successful returns to competition. Dr. Alan Getgood, Chief of Surgery at Aspetar, provided a comprehensive review of anterior cruciate ligament surgical advancements. Dr. Rodney Whiteley focused on training load balance and optimal workload management. Professor Stuart Phillips from Canada delivered evidence-based strategies for athlete recovery and safe return to play.Sessions led by Dr. Mohammeed Al Saey, Director of Sports Dentistry at Aspetar, examined oral health and its impact on athletic performance. Dr. Enda King, Head of Elite Athlete Performance Development, explored tendon and muscle injury management, rehabilitation for hamstring injuries, and return-to-running protocols. Dr. Juan Manuel Alonso, Aspetar sports medicine physician, chaired sessions on team travel management and infection prevention.The conference also highlighted contributions from Sheikha Abdullah, Aspetar Nutrition Specialist, who co-led sessions with Professor Stuart Phillips on advanced sports nutrition trends. Dr. Cristiano Eirale, Chief of Sports Medicine, and Dr. Milos Bojovic presented the latest in regenerative therapies including stem cell and biological treatments. Other notable experts included Mahmoud Ali Mohamed (sports nursing), Dr. Olaf Schumacher (injury risk management). The conference dedicated special programs to youth athletes and highlighted national Qatari initiatives supporting female athlete development and participation.In addition to the sessions, the closing ceremony featured distribution of awards for outstanding scientific presentations and recognition of major sponsors and partners, notably Hamad Medical Corporation, New Balance, Qatar Datamation, and Al Ameen Medical.Aspetar concluded the event by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to innovation, excellence, and international collaboration across sports medicine disciplines, solidifying its position as a global center of excellence in sports medicine and scientific research.

The second day of the Aspetar World Conference on Precision Athlete Health and Performance brought together leading international and regional experts to showcase the latest innovations and advancements in sports medicine and athlete care.The day’s sessions and discussions focused on strengthening injury prevention standards, evidence-based diagnostics, and comprehensive health approaches tailored to athletes.Keynote sessions delivered by world-renowned specialists drew strong engagement and interaction from attendees. Dr. Marco Cardinale presented strategies to safeguard young athletes from injury, while Roula Kotsifaki introduced new protocols to enhance anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury treatment. Dr. Marcelo Bordalo explored the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced medical imaging technologies in managing athlete injuries, and Dr. Khalid Al Khelafi together with Dr. Andrea Mosler shared the latest insights on cartilage injury management. Dr. Roald Bahr outlined the International Olympic Committee’s most recent strategies to protect the health of elite athletes.Specialised sessions provided participants with in-depth knowledge on topics including innovations in sensorimotor rehabilitation programs, mental health and sleep and their impact on sports performance, cardiac conditions in athletes, sports nutrition, national sports medicine programs, regenerative medicine techniques, nursing development in the sports sector, and emergency and first-aid protocols in athlete care.Accompanying discussions and recommendations emphasised adopting AI-driven diagnostics and data analytics to improve injury assessment and management, prioritizing early screening and tailored training oversight for young athletes to prevent chronic injuries, and integrating mental health and sleep management as essential components in sports medicine practice. Speakers also highlighted the vital leadership role of nurses and healthcare teams as the first line of defence in athlete care.A hallmark of Aspetar’s approach, reinforcing its unique position in the global sports medicine landscape, is its commitment to addressing all surrounding aspects of athlete health, including psychological and nursing care. Nutrition-related discussions covered evidence-based nutritional strategies for performance enhancement and recovery, as well as cutting-edge regenerative medical techniques.The conference will conclude Saturday, on its third and final day, while scientific workshops will continue Sunday and Monday. These events underscore Aspetar’s dedication to excellence and international collaboration in sports medicine and its drive to embed innovation into athlete care. The insights and recommendations emerging from Day Two promise to have a lasting impact on athlete health, safety, and performance worldwide.

Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Iraq Football Association. Under this agreement, the Iraqi national team will receive continuous medical and scientific support over the next two years, gaining access to Aspetar's state-of-the-art medical facilities and advanced sports infrastructure. With this partnership, Iraq joins Aspetar's global network of partners who benefit from the expertise of the renowned Qatari hospital.Commenting on the occasion, Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi, Acting Director general of Aspetar, said, "The signing of this cooperation agreement with the Iraq Football Association marks another milestone in strengthening our solid and longstanding relations. This agreement reaffirms Aspetar's leading role in sports medicine in the region and underscores our commitment to enhancing player performance by providing world-class medical and scientific services, while supporting initiatives that serve athletes and advance sports medicine regionally and internationally."For his part, Adnan Dirjal, President of the Iraq Football Association, stated, "This agreement with Aspetar aims to further enhance sporting cooperation between the two parties. We have agreed to coordinate efforts to benefit from Aspetar's expertise in medicine and sports science, which will help improve the technical and medical capabilities of Iraqi teams. Aspetar, as the first of its kind in the world, plays a vital and pivotal role in preserving player health and achieving optimal results."The memorandum also grants Iraqi teams priority access to Aspetar's world-class medical services, enabling them to benefit from international best practices in maintaining player fitness and improving performance.Furthermore, the agreement covers collaboration in sports science services, including performance assessments for national team players, scientific and professional development for the association's medical staff, and providing athletes with guidance aligned with the highest international standards.Aspetar is one of the world's leading specialized hospitals in orthopaedics and sports medicine, and the first of its kind in the Middle East. In 2009, Aspetar was officially accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, and it is also recognized as an IOC Research Centre.