The International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) was established in 1928, shortly after the first Olympic Games. Physicians from eleven countries founded the “Association Internationale Médico-Sportive” (AIMS), the name was later changed. Today, FIMS is an international association committed to the promotion and development of Sports Medicine throughout the world. FIMS is home to four Continental Sports Medicine Associations and 117 National Sports Medicine Associations worldwide, uniting 125 000 sports physicians from 117 countries. Recognised by the IOC, the IPC and an Associate Member of SportAccord, FIMS actively networks and links with all relevant international sports and political organisations. FIMS' educational function is strongly promoted through its courses (Team Physician Development Courses and more recently further course models) and publications (FIMS Team Physician Manual), regional and international events, a biannual World Congress etc., and the publication of clinical scientific information related to sports medicine (FIMS Position Statements). The HPALS research center and the UCT affiliated SSISA Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic surgery clinical practice are jointly recognised by FIMS as one of 26 global centers of excellence in research excellence and clinical expertise and thus recognised as a FIMS collaborating center

of Sports Medicine (FIMS-CCSM). A. Professor Swart is the director of this collaborating center.

Goals

To promote an international FIMS standard of Sports Medicine in clinical care and research through knowledge transfer and exchange.

To develop and deliver accessible FIMS educational courses (Team Physician Course, Advanced Team Physician Course, Instructor Course, Rehabilitaion, Emergency courses and others) on a regular basis to sports medicine professionals.

To promote a model that supports developing countries and early career professionals for advancement of sports medicine best practices through peer mentoring of team physicians.

To engage an international network of FIMS members in collaborative research efforts that promote evidence-based sports medicine.

To promote the membership and active participation in the FIMS.

Benefits

Becoming a FIMS-CCSM means, to have an international acknowledgement in the „World of Sports Medicine", as FIMS is networking with IOC, WADA, IPC, ASOIF, AWOIF, Sport Accord, GAIFS and others

Participation in FIMS-Research Projects depending on special expertise from different CCSMs

Loading CCSM events on the FIMS webpage – increasing the international visibility of the CCSM´s.

Communication of the continental FIMS-Vice-Presidents for special questions and requests and national and international Sports Medicine Policy.

Become an active partner for the CCSM Newsletter to be published every two months under the supervision of the Head of the Education Commission.

Be an active partner in FIMS mission and goals in the CCSM's region.

Examples of recent benefits

The collaboration and networks fostered by FIMS activities lead to greater research collaboration. In the preceding 18 months a number of HPALS researchers have been invited to participate in discussion and collaborating in the production of 8 consensus manuscripts on various topics ranging from Exercise Genomics, COVID related guidelines, and integration of athletes with disorders of sexual development (DSD) into elite sport.

Additional invitations to submit to FIMS special editions in various journals such as the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, Current Sports Medicine Reports and others have resulted in increased opportunities to publish manuscripts and have been taken up by a number of HPALS researchers.Status as a FIMS-CCSM strengthens the applications for prestigious grants and awards such as the upcoming 2022 IOC Center of excellence award which would provide research and educational activity funding throughout a 4 year Olympic cycle.

 

FIMS hosts a special session at the prestigious IOC World Conference on prevention of injury and illness in sport (Monaco 2021) in which FIMS-CCSM members are able to present.

The FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine to be held in Athens offers 3 speaker slots to HPALS researchers.

FIMS is a global partner in the development of wearable technologies. European certification for such devices is being conducted GENUD-FIMS CCSM at the University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. The aim is for each of the FIMS CCSM thatwish and qualify for accreditation to deliver the FIMS Global Standard in wearables. This is a potential revenue generator for HPALS.

Lastly, FIMS-CCSM provide opportunities for visiting fellows in the field of Sports & Exercise Medicine, allowing promising UCT post-graduate the opportunity to gain valuable experience in leading global centers while additionally providing access to visiting students to the excellent clinical mentorship and experience available at the SSISA clinical practice which provides service to a number of globally leading sports franchises such as UAE Team Emirates, Springbok 7’s rugby, Stormer’s Super Rugby and others.