|  | Foreword | No.49 January 2007 |
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President's Message |
I would like to extend my best wishes to all members and partners of ICSSPE for a peaceful and happy 2007 and thank you for your support and co-operation during 2006, which was again an exciting year for us. One of the highlights of our activities in 2006 was when ICSSPE representatives from more than 25 different countries gathered in Berlin for a series of meetings that were rounded off with the 22nd General Assembly on September 1. It was the second time in 10 years, since the beginning of my term as ICSSPE President, that the Executive Board had met in Berlin, but it was the first time that the General Assembly had ever taken place in the German capital city. These events highlight a special ICSSPE anniversary: Berlin has been now host to the ICSSPE Executive Office for 10 years! In January 1997, the ICSSPE office moved from Jyväskylä, Finland to Berlin and since then, ICSSPE has tried to intensify activities on the international, national and regional levels. Our international network is steadily growing and we are always happy to welcome international and national organisations and institutions as new members. This is clearly an indication of the growing importance of international co-operation and collaboration, and it also presents challenges to us all. We still have to strengthen our efforts towards implementing our global aims, with a focus on ensuring high quality in physical education for all. Offering access to research findings related to health and sport, professionalisation in sport, physical education and sport science are other issues which are very high on our agenda. At this point I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who have made a contribution to ICSSPE’s work, for your dedication, vision and enthusiasm during the last 10 years! I take this opportunity to not only reflect on what has been, but also at what will be. ICSSPE will commence 2007 by sending two publications to all our members in February. Perspectives Volume 7, titled “Sport for Persons with a Disability”, is a collaborative project of ICSSPE and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which includes a wide range of topics, sports, regions and fields of study. It highlights some of the most current and topical issues in the world of sport for persons with a disability in practice and theory. The second publication is the fourth edition of the Directory of Sport Science, which again offers fundamental information about the wide range of sport science disciplines and facilitates differentiation within sport science whilst promoting the integration of various branches. We also look forward to 2007 as a year full of important international events in sport, sport science and physical education, including some of our own activities; eg. in September we will again have a symposium in co-operation with our partner DKB-ISTAF on “Sport Schools” and in Autumn we are planning a week long training program for psychological and physical rehabilitation in the context of disaster relief. This program will train volunteers to offer supportive options to overcome trauma, and provide examples of rehabilitation after physical and psychlogical injuries as well as innovative ways to go back to everyday life through sport. It is a follow up to our two seminars on Sport and Reconstruction in October 2005 and January 2006. You will of course receive more information via the ICSSPE news and the May Bulletin. I would like close by extending my sincere thanks to all outgoing members of ICSSPE’s Executive, Editorial and Associations’ Board. Although you have completed your terms, we look forward to a continued collaboration as we are developing world-wide activities with regard to sport, physical education and sport science. Prof. Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper President, ICSSPE President's Message - English http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5