After a very exciting Summer - two weeks in Guangzhou, China, for ICSSPE’s annual meetings, followed by the ICSEMIS Convention right afterwards, plus one week at the Paralympics in Beijing – my normal life is slowly returning back in the office and the September issue of the ICSSPE Bulletin is ready just in time.

Both visits to China were very special. It was great to meet so many of the ICSSPE “family” at the different meetings and General Assembly, where, amongst other important things, the new President’s Committee and members of the Executive Board were elected. You will find more information in the ICSSPE News section on this, so I will not get into detail here.

ICSEMIS was definitely a highlight of the Summer, and you will find a comprehensive report on it in the Current Issue section. Thanks to Peter Van de Vliet from the IPC for this kind contribution.

My visit to the Paralympic Games in Bejing was another highlight and I was amazed by the organisation and overwhelming participation of the Chinese people. Equal to – as Sir Philip Craven said – the best games ever!

But now back to this edition of the Bulletin. This time we have a special feature on “Women, Sport and Social Change”. Thanks to Darlene Kluka, who’s term as Chair of the Editorial Board will finish at the end of the year and who has just moved to the School of Human Performance and Leisure Science at Barry University, we have a wide range of different and very interesting articles on this topic. Some examples include “Equality and Public Policies for Women in Sport in Europe” by Kari Fasting and Celia Brackenridge, „Perceived Roles of Female Athletes in Hong Kong“ by Siu Yin Cheung and „Can you be an agent of Change? Making a Difference Through Advocacy“ by Margaret Talbot. Thanks Darlene, for this Special Feature and also for your great work as Chair of the Editorial Board. You did a wonderful job!

Last but not least I would also like to remind you all of our Sport in Post Disaster Intervention seminar that will take place for the second time in Rheinsberg from 1 to 7 November 2008, thanks to the generous support of the German Ministry of the Interior. Please find more information in the ICSSPE News section.

Enjoy Reading!

Yours, Katrin Koenen

Katrin Koenen
Publications and Scientific Affairs Manager