The 2nd Serbian International

The First Serbian International Sports Medicine Conference was held in Belgrade from May 21-23, 2015. It was organized by the Serbian Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine and the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital Aspetar from Qatar.

This scientific event, held at the Sava Congress Centre, welcomed 560 participants, of which 282 were from the Balkan region, 36 foreign, 55 undergraduate students, 116 graduate and post graduate medical school students and interns, 13 participants were sent by the sports associations and 58 participants were from the Serbian Institute of Sport Medicine. Serbian and foreign speakers, 27 of them, had their presentations and over 55 topics were covered in the three days of the Conference. All of the lectures were conducted in English, with simultaneous translation provided.

On the first day of the Conference the Serbian Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine welcomed a delegation from Qatar, foreign and Serbian speakers, Honorary and Scientific committee members, members of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, guests from the ministries of sport and ministries of health in the Balkan region, ambassadors of Qatar and Croatia to Serbia, sponsors and guests.

First session of the Conference Sports medicine: importance and Perspective was held at the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences. The President of The Serbian Academy, Academician Vladimir Kostić, addressed our guest and participants. Professor Zoran Krivokapić welcomed all guests and opened the first session. Academician Vladimir Kanjuh and Professor Krivokapic were the panelists of the first session where three guest speakers and four Serbian lecturers presented their research. Dr Nebojša Popović gave a Honorary lecture “Serbia and sports medicine- proud past, exciting future” and was inaugurated a visiting professor of Medical School of Belgrade University. Academician Nebojsa Lalic, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine handed him Diploma of Visiting professor.

After the first session at the Serbian Academy, guests were taken on a walking tour around the Kalemegdan fortress and the centre of the city. After this stroll all the guests came to the Serbian National Theatre where the official opening of the Conference was organized.

At the official opening the director of the Serbian Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine, Mr. Goran Bojović, welcomed all the guests. Mr Ali Mohamed Al-Kubaisi, Chief Corporate Services Officer at the Aspire Zone also addressed the guests on behalf of the director of Aspetar, Dr Mohamad Gaith Al-Kuwari, who was unable to attend the Conference. The Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Serbia, Mr Vanja Udovičić, also welcomed the guests and officially opened the Conference.

After the opening speeches there was an official program with the Children Choir Čarolija, brothers Teofilović, the orchestra of Bora Dugić and the rhythmic gymnasts of Milena Reljin.

After the opening ceremony, guests were invited to a cocktail party at the balcony of The National Theatre and after the cocktail the guests were taken to the famous restaurant Writers’ Club. Besides the delegation from Qatar, the Minister of Youth and Sport, Mr Vanja Udovičić and other guests, the Ambassador of Qatar to Serbia, his Excellency Mubarak Bin Fahad Al-Thani was also present.

The rest of the Conference took place at the Sava Convention Centre on 22 ^nd and 23^rd May, 2015. During the day (22^nd May) participants could attend 18 plenary lectures and 6 parallel workshops.

In the evening on 22^nd May the hosts organised a gala dinner at the open swimming pool complex Kosutnjak, part of the complex of the Serbian Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine. During the evening the director of the Institute, Mr. Goran Bojović delivered presents to the lecturers, guests from Qatar and friends of the Institute who helped organise the Conference. Mr Bojovic expressed his satisfaction that such an important event is organised in Serbia, and he also expressed his hope that this will become a Conference that will bring even more people than this year.

On the third day of the Conference, 23^rd May, the participants could attend 10 lectures, and Dr Nebojša Popović, Mr Goran Bojović and Dr Zoran Krivokapić had closing speech.

After the scientific program was concluded, a tour and a cocktail at the Royal Palace was organised for the lecturers and guests from Qatar. At the Royal Palace the guests were received by Their Royal Highnesses, Crown Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević and Princess Katarina Karađorđević.

After the reception at the Royal Palace a dinner was organised for the lecturers and guests at a restaurant in Skaradlija, the bohemian quarters of Belgrade, to mark the end of this year’s Conference.

Impressions of all the participants are more than positive in every aspect. Besides the high quality of the scientific program, the participants also expressed their admiration for the professionalism, dedication and hospitality of the organising team, and they all pointed out that they would like to meet again in Belgrade at the next Conference.

The conference had extremely well media coverage. Minister Udovičić, the director of the Institute, Goran Bojović, the lecturers and guests from Qatar gave interviews to several TV stations with national coverage. Reactions of the public were extremely positive and congratulations, words of support and gratitude have been received both during the conference and upon its conclusion.