LAUSR

As president and general secretary, we are delighted to introduce the first FIMS special issue of Current Sports Medicine Reports dealing with some of the most pertinent topics in contemporary sports medicine. It is no coincidence that the topics addressed in this first issue deal with the principle areas of interest of our Federation: advancement of medical sports science, education of the new generation of sports physicians, ethics and doping, the care and wellbeing of the athlete as a person and promoter of sports values in our society. Since its establishment in 1928 as Association Internationale Médico-Sportive in Saint Moritz, Switzerland, FIMS has played a crucial role in developing sports medicine as a science and has actively participated in the growth of the Olympic Movement and the philosophy of its Founding Father, Pierre de Coubertin (1863Y1937) (4). FIMS has contributed extensively in establishing sports medicine as a popular medical specialty internationally. FIMS also has been instrumental in establishing scholarly journals and accrediting educational programmes for sports physicians and other allied to medicine professionals. As such, FIMS has contributed significantly in defining the specific topics contemporary sports medicine should address as an interdisciplinary field devoted to the promotion of human well-being through sport and physical activity. The history of sports medicine is intricately tied to the history of science. The early sports medicine practitioners viewed athletes as mere curiosities and ‘‘mirabilia’’ sources of bio-physiological data useful in enhancing our understanding of human body function (1). It was not until the mid 20th century that specialized sports medicine practitioners emerged dedicated to the cause of improving athletic performance and supporting athletes and sporting events (3). In recent years, FIMS and sports medicine in general have asserted a more sociological role in contemporary society. Sports physicians are not only clinicians but also educators and moral agents who act as practitioners offering their knowledge and wisdom to the service of others (5). As the largest association of sports physicians in the world, FIMS continues to be inspired by Coubertin’s perennial ideals. The French Baron quickly realized that sports medicine could play a fundamental role in the development of the Olympic ideals and its social and educational values. FIMS views sport as a means of improving the quality of life of all human beings within the communities they live. In this regard, we can affirm that the philosophy of FIMS is based on a holistic interpretation of physical activity and sport as a conduit to promote and maintain physical and mental health in all individuals. Health and well-being are human rights, and sport and medicine as a science of human care are the tools, which make these rights accessible to all people (2). The continued investment in education and training by FIMS reflects the lifelong learning philosophy, which has inspired a legacy since its establishment in the last century. For FIMS, young generations of sports physicians represent human capital and investment. The numerous meetings, conferences, and congresses organized over the years in different locations of the world are in keeping with this ambitious agenda. In our opinion, this philosophy is the key to understanding the success of FIMS as an association of scholars and clinical practitioners in the field of sport and the reason behind its tremendous geographical expansion worldwide. There is no doubt that FIMS, according to its inspirational principles, has contributed to the popularity and prestige associated with sports medicine. FIMS has increased the development of medical research dedicated to the study of sport and physical activity and has grown in stature through disseminating the principles of motivation, performance, and the health aspects of sport and physical activity. The growing number of registrations at FIMS World Congresses and the success of its editorial and educational initiatives aimed at promoting best practice sport medicine evidence the endorsement of the FIMS philosophy. Thanks to editorial initiatives and our new affiliation with the prestigious scholarly journal Current Sports Medicine Reports, the Federation promotes best-practice principles for athlete care and sharing knowledge with sports physicians all over the world. For all these reasons, editorial initiatives such as the publication of this first special issue on pertinent topics in sports medicine by Current Sports Medicine Reports is welcomed as an outstanding initiative perfectly in line with the principles and values of FIMS. In 2011, the FIMS Collaborating Centres of Sports Medicine were established. These centres function as local multiplicators FIMS ARTICLE