It is a pleasure and a great honour to invite all of you to the VII European Congress of Sports Medicine, in Austria, in the beautiful city of Salzburg. 

Since its first edition held in Innsbruck in 1999, the European Congress of Sports Medicine has been hosted every two years in European cities, and since then it has always represented the most important scientific and educational event at a Continental level in the field of Sports Medicine.  

Delegates from the 41 EFSMA European member national associations, sports physicians from all around the world, students, and many invited speakers will get together in Salzburg to exchange updated scientific results in research,  new advances in technologies, academic news to debate on, and the wish to renew a common vision represented by the health maintenance enhancement, prevention and therapy of different diseases through the practice of physical activity, exercise, and sports, and return to sport after injury.  

As you are aware the responsibilities of sports medicine are increasing more and more in recreational and competitive sports, and consequently, the promotion of educational initiatives are very welcomed as an occasion to share medical and scientific experiences at National and International level. This time we will meet in Salzburg, a city with long academic, medical and scientific sports-related traditions.  

On behalf of FIMS, I would like to thank the Austrian authorities for supporting the Congress and for hosting the international sports medicine community.  A special thank to the Austrian Society of Sports Medicine and the Organizing Committee of the Congress for accepting the challenge of organizing the event, which will be held in conjunction with the 3rd  Central European Congress of  Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, assembling an excellent scientific programme merging  the specialty Sports Medicine with the specialty Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 

In conclusion, with this spirit and in the name of the International Federation of Sports Medicine, I wish all participants in this Congress a fruitful work. 

To the Local Organising Committee and to his President, Prof. Anthony Wicker, go my personal good wishes for the success of this important International event. 

To the President Joseph Cummiskey and the Executive Committee of the European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations go my wish to keep on doing the brilliant work done so far in the first 15 years of life of this Federation. 

Thank you. 

Fabio Pigozzi
President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine