The Sixth IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences

Conference Report

The Sixth IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences was to have been held in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A, from 16th-21st September, 2001.As a result of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11th the Congress was postponed "out of respect for the loss of life that had suffered and the emotional impact we all felt". In the end it was decided that the Congress would be cancelled due to the catastrophic events of September 11th and disruption of worldwide travel. However, at a later date the organising committee decided to hold the Congress in conjunction with the 49th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. May 28-31, 2002.

Leading health and medical experts in movement, exercise and sport joined the Olympic World Congress. The theme of the Congress was: "Science & Medicine of Human Movement"

This cross-disciplinary Congress featured renowned leading experts from around the world who shared breakthrough research and scientific knowledge to help people live active lives - from Olympic calibre athletes to sports and exercise enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.

In the Opening Ceremonies the delegates were welcomed by Dr. Patrick Schamasch, Medical Director of the IOC Medical Commission on behalf of the Prince Alexandre de Merode Chairman, IOC Medical Commission and President of the Congress: "The IOC Medical Commission is delighted to organise the 6th IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences. The Scientific Programme Committee deserves to be congratulated for creating an exciting forum for exchange of ideas through a scientific programme of the highest quality. We are delighted to bring together the Sixth IOC Olympic World Congress with the ACSM meeting; we wish the Congress in St. Louis every success and look forward to joining you for an enjoyable and stimulating week."

Programme Highlights

This Congress emphasised human movement, including sports, physical activity, healthy lifestyles and the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries. The interdisciplinary programme contained a mixture of keynote and invited lectures, symposia, and posters.

The Opening Presentation was held by the 2002 Winner of the IOC Olympic Prize for Sport Science, Prof. Bengt Saltin, from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission and Pfizer presented Prof. Saltin with the 2002 IOC Olympic Prize on Sport Sciences, the highest honour in the field of movement, exercise and sport sciences, at a special ceremony in Salt Lake City's Athletes Village. Jacques Rogge, IOC President, made the presentation.

The IOC Olympic Prize, which is endowed by Pfizer, carries a $500,000 award and is accompanied by an Olympic Medal presented as part of the Olympic Games. The IOC Medical Commission noted Saltin's outstanding contributions in basic cardiovascular and muscle physiology, as well as his exceptional findings in the field of exercise physiology, as reasons for his receiving the honour in 2002.

"Dr. Saltin's work epitomises what this award is all about - helping people live active lives," said Prince Alexandre de Merode, Chairman, IOC Medical Commission. "The IOC Olympic Prize is a catalyst for scientific discoveries that will benefit athletes and recreational enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Together, the IOC and Pfizer are committed to improving research and sharing scientific knowledge in MES."

The impact of Saltin's research can be felt throughout society - in the medical field and in the everyday lives of people, from the promotion of basic physical health to the enhancement of elite performance. Through research studying the effects that inactivity has on the body, which was commissioned in part by NASA, Saltin confirmed that exercise should be a part of recovery after experiencing illness/injury instead of bed rest. This marked a major shift in how patients were treated following illness or injury.

"Years ago, it was thought that rest and relaxation were the best ways to recuperate from an injury or illness, but my research proved that, in fact, it's the opposite," said Saltin. "People should work with their doctor to create an active recuperation plan following any illness or injury, cardiovascular or athletic."

John O. Holloszy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA, winner of the IOC Olympic Prize at the 2000 Summer Games-Sydney, Australia hold a keynote lecture on "Establishing the Relationship between Mitochondria, Exercise and Health". He showed that endurance exercise training induces an increase in muscle respiratory capacity that is mediated by an increase in mitochondrial enzymes and results in an increase in the capacity to generate ATP. This adaptation involves increases in the components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, ATP synthase, d-aminolevilinate synthase, the enzymes of the citrate cycle, and the enzymes of fatty acid and ketone oxidation. Exercise deficiency has become a serious public health problem. It plays a major role in the development of abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. The increase in muscle mitochondria induced by endurance exercise is the adaptation that makes it possible for people to exercise sufficiently long and vigorously to obtain the health benefits of endurance. Holloszy continues to lay out the scientific methodology that enables athletes to increase their endurance as they train and, ultimately, test the limits of human performance.

Keynote and Invited Speakers gave talks on the subject of the biological, physical, technological, medical and behavioural aspects of movement. The speakers and their themes were:

Ewald R. Weibel, (Department of Anatomy, University of Berne, Switzerland).
Powerlines for Muscle Work: Functional Limits and Structural Design in the Oxygen and Fuel Pathways
An important factor in limiting athletic performance is power supply to the working muscles. The ultimate energy currency for muscle work, the high energy phosphate ATP, must be generated within the muscle cell by either of two processes: (a) anaerobic glycolysis that is wasteful with fuels but fast and thus suited to power burst activity such as shot put or weight lifting; or (b) oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria, a process that is slower but economic with resources, thus suited to power muscle work in endurance activity. Oxidative phosphorylation depends on adequate supply of oxygen and fuels to the mitochondria. Fuels are supplied to the cells during rest and stored as glycogen granules or lipid droplets. In contrast, oxygen cannot be stored but must be supplied from outside air during activity according to instantaneous demand, a critical condition. Maximal O2 consumption, Vo2max, is higher in athletes than in normal sedentary individuals suggesting that it is a constitutional trait of the individual. The pathway for supplying oxygen to the mitochondria involves the lung, the heart, the circulation of blood and the capillaries. We postulate that the quantitative structural design of this pathway for oxygen, the most critical part of the powerlines for muscle work, is a limiting factor for oxygen supply and that all parts are matched to functional demand according to the principle of symmorphosis. This principle postulates that structural design of the entire pathway for oxygen is quantitatively matched to the functional demand, that there is enough of each structure but not too much.

This presentation revealed the importance of quantitative design at all levels of the pathways for oxygen and fuels in determining the overall functional capacity of the powerlines for muscle work. The diverse but coadjusted design of the two pathways ensures efficient and well-matched fluxes of oxygen and fuel. Athletic performance therefore critically depends on adequate design of these powerlines for muscle work.

Erich Muiller, Christian Raschner, Hermann Schwameder, (Institute of Sport Science, University of Salzburg, Austria).
Biomechanics and Training in Elite Alpine Ski Racing
In the future, research into the training process of high-performance athletes will be more necessary than ever, as a tool to produce optimal training methods. Further improvements in achievement may be reached less by increasing the scope of training than by raising the quality of training. Sport biomechanics can play an important role in optimising the training quality of top class alpine ski racers. The areas of applying biomechanics in the training process of alpine ski racers were discussed.

Jos J. de Koning, (Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands).
Application of Technology and Science in Speed Skating to Improve Performance
Sport at the highest level is characterised by a continuous improvement in performance. Sport scientists can contribute to this improvement in different ways. In this presentation two examples of these contributions were discussed. In the first example an energy flow model was presented with which it is possible to gain a better insight in the factors that determine performance. In the second example the theory behind a new ice skate design and its application in practice was discussed. The purpose of this part of the presentation was to explain the theory behind the new skate design and to explain why the design process (from conceptualisation to realisation) is not an overnight one.

Andrew Pipe, (University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada).
Responsible Medicine in Amateur Sports

Jim Sallis, (San Diego State University, California, USA).
Motivating Youth to Exercise: A Public Health Perspective

Glenn S. Fleisig¹, Rochelle Nicholls², Rafael F. Escamilla³, and Bruce Elliott²
Kinematics and Kinetics of the High Velocity Tennis Serve
(¹American Sports Medicine Institute, USA, ²University of Western Australia, Australia, and ³Duke University, USA).
Tennis serves of elite players were videotaped during the 2000 Olympic tennis singles competition in Sydney, Australia. Videotaping was collected for one end of Centre Court, from two 200 Hz cameras mounted at the edge of the court. For each serve, ball velocity displayed from the stadium's radar gun and the result of the serve were recorded. High-quality electronically synchronized video images were successfully captured for 24 elite players (11 male, 13 female), who were chosen as the subjects for the study. In general, large variables were found for kinematic parameters (angular displacements and velocities) and kinetic parameters (joint resultant force and torque). Thus, flexibility, technique, strength, and physical conditioning are essential for the elite tennis player. Comparing of serve kinematics and kinetics to the biomechanics of other tennis strokes and other activities (such as baseball pitching) provide useful insight into injury potential. Further investigation should focus on biomechanics changes with fatigue, and correlation between serve biomechanics and ball velocity within and among different players.

Gert-Peter Bruggemann^l, Adamantios Arampatzis¹, Paavo V. Komi², Falk Schade¹
Kinematics and Kinetics in Pole Vaulting: Performance Enhancement and Mechanical Loading
(¹Institute for Biomechanics, German Sport University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, ²Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland).
At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games the women's pole-vault was an Olympic event for the first time. The purpose of the study during the Olympic pole-vault finals was focussed on both the performance optimisation and the study of mechanical loading of structures which should be of risk in the specific sport. The first objective of the study is to explain the impact of energy storage in the pole by bending and of energy re-utilisation by the athletes in a later stage of the movement to the final performance in pole vaulting. The finals of the men's and women's pole-vault competitions were recorded using a set of four genlocked and synchronised video systems operating at 50 Hz. The best trials of all Olympic finalists were incorporated in the investigation. In addition more than 50 trials of male and female national elite pole-vaulters were involved in the laboratory study. The results of the study of the pole-vault finals in Sydney clearly contribute to a more detailed understanding of the pole vaulting techniques at a very high level of performance for both genders. In particular, for the women's pole-vault the data will lead to significant applications in training and coaching of top athletes and of course, the next generation of pole-vaulters. The epidemiological studies reporting frequent spinal abnormalities in the thoracic lumbar junction and the lumbar spine of pole-vaulters are in accordance with the findings in regard to mechanical load due to the specific jumping technique. From this, the results will influence technique and training in terms of mechanical load control and the reduction of risks and injuries.

Deborah L. King, and Sarah. L. Smith, (Montana State University and United States Olympic Committee).
A Biomechanical Analysis Quadruple Figure Skating Jumps
The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City were the first Olympics in which the quadruple jump was a commanding presence in figure skating. The data were collected during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Four video cameras (120 fps) were used with a pan and tilt camera system (Peak Performance Technologies, Inc.) to record the quadruple jumps performed both during practice and competition. Two cameras each were placed on both sides of the rink and were gen-locked. A calibration was conduct using survey poles placed on the ice surface. Data were manually digitised and 3D coordinates were calculated using the Peak Motus pan and tilt procedure. The 3D coordinates were then filtered using a quintic spline algorithm. These data were analysed using software written in LabView (National Instruments, Inc.). The major difference in the successful and unsuccessful jumps as performed by four skaters during the 2000 U.S. Figure Skating Championships was smaller moments of inertia for those successful starting as early in the jump as toe-pick. Thus the skater's ability to control their rotation appears to be most critical for completing quadruple toe-loops.

Gert-Peter Brugemann¹, Gianpiero DeMonte¹, Paavo V. Komi², Juha Isoletho², Erich Muller³, Wolfgang Potthast¹, Hermann Schwameder³, M. Virmavirta²
Biomecbnical Analysis of the Takeoff, the Early and the Mid-flight Phases in Ski Jumping During the Salt Lake City Winter Games
(¹Institute for Biomechanics, German Sport University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. ²Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. ³University of Salzburg, Austria).
The early flight phase in ski jumping is characterised as the transition from take-off into a stable flight. This phase covers the first 15 to 25 meters or 0.7 to 1.0 seconds, respectively, depending on the size of the jumping hill. The data on the early flight kinematics analysed during the Lillehammer Games (Arndt et al. 1995) reported that less than 15% of the variance of total performance (distance jumped) can be explained by the CM parameters (position, velocity) of the take-off. The explained variance at 15m after the take-off through the CM ballistic variables was shown to be less than 20%. When adding five parameters describing the body configuration and indicating aerodynamic variables the explained variance of total performance increased up to about 85%. These results demonstrate that the early flight or the transition take-off to stable flight should be the most sensitive phase to determine the total performance in ski jumping. The purpose of the biomechanical analysis in ski jumping during the Salt Lake City Winter Games was to evaluate the results of the biomechanical studies performed at the 1994 and the 1998 Olympic Games in Lillehammer and Nagano, respectively, to identify changes in the techniques used in the period of performing the V-style (firstly performed in 1992 in Albertville), and to increase the general knowledge of the identification of performance limiting factors in the transmission from take-off to flight. In this study the jumps of all participants of the 90m and the 120m hills were recorded by three synchronized cameras. From the results it was concluded that there exists an optimum of the angular momentum for the early flight which means that there is an optimal relationship between ballistic and aerodynamic take-off parameters. The optimum angular (somersault) momentum ensured the early compact flight position and thus the necessary lift and the drag forces for an optimum flight. The take-off and the transition to early flight are the dominant prerequisites for total performance in ski-jumping. An optimum angular momentum at take-off brings the athlete in an advantageous position in the early flight for an optimum use of lift and drag forces. It is substantial for the jumping performance to optimise angular momentum during the take-off in accordance with the torque due to the air steam after take-off, which has to stop the forward rotation at the right moment.

S.L. Smith, KW. Rundell, D.A. Judelson, J.D. Crawley, and K.D. Coughlin, (United States Olympic Committee, USA).
Comparison of Selected Ski Jumping and Laboratory Jumping Variables for Nordic Combined Athletes
Much of ski jumping literature is devoted to studies of the kinematic and kinetic analysis of the jump prior to, at, and after take-off. Other studies deal with the transition from take-off to early flight of the jumper. Subjects are predominately ski jump specialists (JS); Nordic Combined (NC) athletes are rarely included. The primary purpose of this study was to compare selected ski jump variables between NC athletes and JS. A secondary purpose was to compare selected on-hill variables for US NC athletes with jump variables measured in a laboratory setting. The researchers used high-speed images of both NC and JS were obtained during World Cup competitions held on the K120m hill at Utah Olympic Park in January 2001. Although other factors at take-off and/or flight also play an important role in determining jump distance, the need and value of an effective resistance-training program for NC athletes can not be over emphasised.

D. Riva, M. Botta¹, P. Trevisson, P. Trente², R. Minoletti, N. Venturin, S. Borga
Static Postural Strategies in Figure Skaters and Ice Dancers
(Department of Research - University Interfaculty School on Motor Sciences - University of Torino. ¹ Italian Ice Sports Federation, ² French Ice Sports Federation).
Static postural control is strongly affected by the functional level of the three systems involved: proprioceptive, visual and vestibular. The proprioceptive system is the quickest and, with sensors present in every muscle, tendon and joint, is able to inform at a high velocity the nervous centres at the spinal and brainstem level. The visual system is the most precise, it improves the precision of the postural control that would be possible using only the proprioceptive information. The vestibular system (the roughest and most violent) is the mechanism that comes into play later because it presents a higher threshold of activation. The aim of this study was to investigate if international skaters, young skaters and international ice dancers showed the same strategies in different visual conditions. The results showed significant differences between dancers, and the more highly trained international figure skaters.

Tadao Isaka¹, Tadashi Wada² and Kazuo Funato³
Symmetrical Analysis of Muscle Strength in Weightlifter
¹Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu Japan, ²Tokushima Buri University, Kagawa, Japan ³Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
In Olympic weightlifting (both the 'snatch' and 'clean and jerk') pulling the barbell phase is the most important movement in determining whether the lift is successful or not. These bimanual liftings require the muscles of both lower limbs to work symmetrically. Most people have a dominant side concerning the hand and the leg, developments of skeleton, muscle and neuromuscular function are considered not to be a complete symmetry. The athletes who required symmetrical movements make their endeavor to get a well-balanced neuromuscular function between both legs and arms. The symmetry of maximal strength of each joint should influence the symmetry parameters during lifting and lifting techniques. As a result, the purpose of this study was to evaluate symmetrical level of maximal muscle strength of knee and hip joints in developing weight lifters. From our results, developing college weightlifters improved their strength level and symmetrical level during one year. It is interesting that hip extension strength and symmetrical index were remarkably increased, because hip extension is the key of the explosive power output during the weightlifting.

Ruth Morey Sorrentino and Larry Katz, (University of Calgary, Canada).
Virtual Reality and Elite Athletes
This paper provided a discussion on virtual reality in sport. The terms virtual reality (VR), virtual environment (VE), and simulator, were defined and discussed with regard to their potential as tools for the enhancement of elite athletic performance. Issues related to the need for these tools and the challenges of developing them, plus current examples of VR tools already in use by elite athletes, were presented.

Harcharan Singh Ranu, (AOBRI, Atlanta, USA).
Simulation of Micro-Fracture Injury in Female Gymnasts-An In Vivo Study
At the congress Ranu spoke about his research on the simulation of injuries in female gymnasts. He showed that typical behaviour of female gymnasts, reveals that just 2 jumps are sufficient to start a micro-fracture of their bone. At a certain stage in the process of crack growth only 6 jumps can also cause a severe micro-fracture of the bone, which can be catastrophic to the female gymnasts. This study also shows that shoes, and other supports can reduce the injury or propagation of bone crack. The study further revealed that micro-fracture due to jumping is sensitive to the number of jumps. This analysis further helps in understanding of fracture fixation of bone and prosthetic design etc. The modelling technique is being extended to evaluate accidents in other areas where falls are involved, e.g., parachuting, ski jumping.

Following papers were also presented:

Effects of Equipment and Performance Characteristics on Ski Jumping
Pekka Luhtanen, Juha Kivekas, Mikko Virmavirta and Matti Pulli, (KlHU-Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Jyvaskyla, Finland).

The Margin for Error in Timing the Release for Double Layout Somersault Dismounts from High Bar
Maurice R. Yeadon and Michael J. Hiley, (Loughborough University, U K).

In Vitro Testing Shows that the Soleus Muscle Can Act as an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Agonist
Alfred F. Faust, John J. Elias, Yung-Hua Chu, Edmund Y. Chao, Andrew J. Cosgarea, (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA).

New Polyolefin Sheet Material for Athletic Mouthguard
Toshiaki Ueno, Yosuke Sumita, Yukio Sasaki, and Takashi Ohyama (Department of Sports MedicineDentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan).

Uphill Cross Country Skiing As A Determinant Of Over Performance In Elite Nordic Combined Athletes
D.A. Judelson, S.L. Smith, S.A. Chelland, and K.W. Rundell (United States Olympic Committee, USA).

The Relationship between EMG-Time and Isometric Force-Time Curves
Loren Z.F. Chiu, Andrew C. Fry, Brian K. Schilling, Lawrence W. Weiss, Richard B. Kreider, (Human Performance Laboratories, The University of Memphis, USA).

The Inaugural Winter Senior Olympic Games: Physiological Lessons from Lake Placid
Jenifer J. Mason, Helen Hopp Marshak, Sally Fontamillas, (Loma Linda University, USA).

The Effect of Backpack Carrying on the Gait of Young Children
Ng San Fan, Ning Zi Heng, (Macau Polytechnic Institute, Macau).
Easy Strutter System Improves Biomechanical Gait Efficiency of Total Knee Arthoplasty Patients John Nyland, Thomas Bernasek, Christine Dundore, (University of South Florida, USA).

Myosin Heavy Chain Expression and Dynamic Strength and Force Variables in Weight-Trained Females
Brian K. Schilling, Andrew C. Fry, Loren Z. Chiu, Richard B. Kreider, Christopher J. Rasmussen and Lawrence W. Weiss, (Human Performance Laboratories, University of Memphis, USA).

Report of a New Innovative Technique Essential for Elbow Arthroscopy: The "Joint Jack"
Ronald M. Selby, Stephen J. O'Brien, Anne M. Kelly, and Mark Drakos (Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, The Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell University Medical center, St. Vincent's Hospital & Medical Center of New York, New York Medical College (RMS), New York, USA).

68 poster presentations related to Biological, Physical & Medical aspects of sports science were also presented. Over 600 delegates attended this part of the congress.

The next IOC World Congress will be held in Athens, Greece, 7-11th October 2003. Theme: Physical, Nutritional and Psychological Care of the Athlete in the 21st Century. For more information please contact the author.

Prof. Harcharan Singh Ranu
profranu@yahoo.com