September 21, 2017
Scientific Award caps first day at VISTA 2017 Conference in Toronto
Canadian Paralympic Committee – Note to media: High-resolution photos available to media for editorial use are available inhttps://www.dropbox.com/sh/6b79nmqnkjdn19k/AADrMW1BXAfrH6QlSmsST5UYa?dl=0
Scientific Award caps first day at VISTA 2017 Conference in Toronto
 |
|
Photo of Robert Steadward, Victoria Goosey-Tolfrey, Andrew Parsons: Dan Galbraith / VISTA 2017
|
September 20, 2017, TORONTO – Britain’s Victoria Goosey-Tolfrey was presented with the Scientific Award in Wednesday’s Opening Ceremony to cap day one at the 2017 VISTA Conference being held until Saturday at the Chelsea Hotel and the Toronto Pan Am Sport Centre.
This year’s event is organized through a partnership between the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) and is being presented by Pfizer Canada Inc.
The theme of this year’s conference is: “Opportunities and challenges in Paralympic sport science and medicine support.”
After a full day of conferencing, the Opening Ceremony gathered the more than 300 attendees from 41 countries. The hosts were CBC broadcaster and athletics Paralympian Rob Snoek along with triple Paralympic alpine skiing medallist Caroline Viau.
Goosey-Tolfrey, a professor at Loughborough University, UK, delivered her keynote address ”Pushing from Atlanta to Rio: Reflections of my Practitioner and Research Journey” to highlight the Opening Ceremony.
”I am overwhelmed by the award,” said Goosey-Tolfrey,recognized for her academic work to optimize athletic performances in Para athletes for more than 20 years. ”This journey for me has been all about teamwork and sharing knowledge.”
Sports scientists and researchers from around the world are here to provide a forum for exchange on current information, expertise on Paralympic sport and the Paralympic movement.
In total there will be 132 oral and poster presentations, and 10 interactive workshops.
”This is the biggest VISTA ever,” confirmed Andrew Parsons, the newly-elected president of the International Paralympic Committee. ”The IPC Sport Science Committee has put together a very strong program and so far it has been absolutely fascinating.”
The conference continues through to Saturday with a packed schedule running approximately from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Thursday and Friday’s sessions are at the Chelsea Hotel while on Saturday the conference heads to the Toronto Pan Am Sport Centre.
This is the eighth edition of VISTA. Jasper, Alta., hosted the first conference in 1993.
”We are proud to welcome the Paralympic scientific committee to Toronto,” said Bob Steadward, the IPC’s founding president and honorary chair of the local organizing committee. ”There have been events all year long in this Canada’s 150th birthday and this is another one of those special occasions.”
A number of sessions are open to media throughout the conference. That list can be viewed here: http://paralympic.ca/news-and-events/news/international-sport-science-experts-to-attend-vista-2017-conference-in-toronto
For more information on VISTA 2017: VISTA2017.com
For more information, please contact:
Alison Korn
Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Phone: 613-569-4333 ext. 243 / Cell: 613-298-4927
Email: akorn@paralympic.ca
Laura Albright
Manager, Communications and Events
Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
Phone: 416-596-1240 ext. 238 / Cell: 416-801-4778
Email: lalbright@csiontario.ca