The conference will showcase the latest evidence-based, practical and innovative approaches to protecting athlete health, with a strong emphasis on prevention. Building on the success of previous editions, the programme will prioritise actionable, practitioner-oriented content that delegates can apply directly in their daily work.

Reflecting the breadth of athlete health protection, the conference will cover clinical and non-clinical disciplines, including sports medicine, sports science, nutrition, mental health and athlete safeguarding. The organisers are committed to developing a globally representative, diverse and balanced programme, and particularly encourage proposals that bring forward early- and mid-career researchers, presenters from low-resource and underrepresented regions, and gender-balanced faculty.

Call for Proposals Now Open

The call for proposals for invited speakers is now open. Proposals are invited for keynote lectures, symposia and head-to-head debates. The deadline for submissions is 1 October 2026.

The conference is multidisciplinary, and proposals are welcomed from all fields relevant to the protection of athlete health, including the prevention of injuries, illnesses, mental health problems, and harassment and abuse in sport.

Proposals should be clearly aligned with the prevention focus of the conference. Submissions focusing solely on treatment or rehabilitation, or on the health effects of physical activity, fall outside the scope of the conference and will not be accepted.

Programme Formats

The conference programme will include keynote lectures, symposia, head-to-head debates, workshops and abstract presentations, either oral or poster-based.

• Keynote lectures will be high-profile plenary presentations delivered by leading authorities to the full conference audience. They should address topics of broad relevance and significant impact across the field of athlete health protection, presenting cutting-edge science in an engaging, accessible and forward-looking way. Proposals may be submitted for a single keynote speaker or in a dual keynote format, pairing an established authority with an early-career researcher or a speaker from a diverse background.
• Symposia will be 75-minute themed sessions bringing together a small panel of speakers to explore a topic in depth from complementary perspectives. Each symposium may include a maximum of four speakers and must include a five-minute introduction by the chair, as well as at least 15 to 20 minutes of audience interaction and discussion. Proposals should specify the chair, individual lecture titles, speakers and the duration of each component.
• Head-to-head debates will be 60-minute sessions featuring two speakers and one chair. These sessions should present competing, evidence-based perspectives on a controversial or unresolved question related to athlete health. The emphasis is on rigorous scientific discussion rather than adversarial debate, with strong audience engagement encouraged through interactive formats such as pre- and post-session votes and questions facilitated through the conference app.

Speaker Benefits and Review Process

Invited speakers for keynote lectures, symposia and head-to-head debates will receive complimentary registration, accommodation during the conference from 30 November to 3 December 2027, and participation in the social programme, including the welcome drinks reception, Sports Celebration Night and faculty dinner.

Travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Proposal submission is free of charge. Following the review process, all authors will be informed of the outcome of their invited speaker proposal by 1 December 2026.

Workshops and Abstract Presentations

The conference will also include a wide range of hands-on workshops and abstract presentations. The call for workshop and abstract proposals will open later, from 1 December 2026.

The deadline for workshop proposals is 1 March 2027, while the deadline for abstracts is 1 August 2027.

Further information about the 8th IOC World Conference – Protecting the Health of the Athlete and the call for proposals is available via the official conference channels here: 8th IOC World Conference – Protecting the Health of the Athlete

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This year, the IOC’s Let’s Move campaign returns under the theme “You Can Do This! Let’s Move”, inviting people around the world, especially young people, to take the first step towards a more active life. The campaign highlights a simple but powerful message: movement does not need to begin with perfection, confidence or high performance. It can begin with one step, one game, one shared activity or one moment of courage.

At a time when many young people are moving less and facing growing barriers to participation, the 2026 campaign places particular emphasis on self-doubt. Feelings of not being ready, capable or confident enough can prevent young people from taking part in sport and physical activity. Through the message “You Can Do This”, Olympic Day 2026 encourages young people to start where they are, move in ways that feel accessible to them, and discover the confidence, resilience and sense of belonging that physical activity can help build.

For ICSSPE, this message strongly reflects the organisation’s mission to advance physical activity, sport and physical education as essential contributors to quality of life, health and sustainable development. Movement is not only a matter of physical fitness. It is also connected to mental wellbeing, social connection, inclusion, education and empowerment. Olympic Day provides an important reminder that sport and movement should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, background, ability, gender, experience or level of performance. This principle is central to ICSSPE’s work across research, education, policy and practice, and it continues to guide the organisation’s cooperation with international partners.

As a Recognised Organisation of the IOC, ICSSPE maintains a long-standing relationship with the Olympic Movement and shares its commitment to using sport as a tool for positive social impact. This connection is also reflected in ICSSPE’s involvement in initiatives linked to the IOC’s Olympism365 Strategy, including the Sport and Health Capacity Development Initiative, developed within the framework of IOC and WHO cooperation. Through this work, ICSSPE contributes to strengthening the role of community sport and physical activity in promoting healthier and more active communities.

Olympic Day 2026 is an invitation to reflect on how sport organisations, educators, researchers, policymakers and communities can help remove barriers to movement and create opportunities for everyone to participate. It is also a reminder that confidence often grows through experience: by joining, playing, trying, learning and moving together.

ICSSPE joins the Olympic Movement in celebrating Olympic Day and encourages its members, partners and wider network to support the Let’s Move message in their communities. Whether through schools, clubs, universities, community organisations, public spaces or digital platforms, every opportunity to move can contribute to healthier, more connected and more inclusive societies.

Read more about tge Let’s Move campaign here: Let’s Move 2026 – Toolkit

You can do this. Let’s move.

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