The private investment in leagues such as the Thai Premier League is exploding but the finances are predominantly being aimed at player recruitment (from established leagues in Europe & the Americas) & development of facilities.  As yet, there has been an under investment (in some instances financially & in others by way a lack of support of the professionals employed), in the medical services & exercise science departments.  I consider this is predominantly due to ignorance & a lack of education as opposed to a reticence to bank roll the projects.

As a result of the under developed support networks, player health & safety is compromised on a daily basis, whilst performances are limited on the training pitches & stadia that have been built.  Whilst the local players may not value these services presently, the new generation of foreign imports voice genuine concern regarding their well-being in addition to a disappointment that they aren't able to perform at their peak standard.

I am now working with sports medics that have vast experience of leading sports trauma management education programmes in the UK with football & rugby.  The aim is to provide a three day course to educate doctors, physiotherapists & sports therapists working in Asian sport, on the theory & skills required to safely manage the pitch-side demands of training & match play.  It is intended that the course will be endorsed by the Faculty of Pre-hospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh & I am in discussions with the Head of the Medical Committee for the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) to see if they will accredit the course.

Furthermore, it is my intention to precede the course with a two-day concussion management symposium, with internationally renowned experts taking the stage to disseminate the latest research & practices that are being employed in the established sporting environments across the globe.  The most obvious examples of poor current practice in sports trauma management that I have encountered whilst working in Asia have concerned instances of concussion & I believe the need for education in this field is paramount.

So, keep your eyes out on this website, Twitter & Facebook for further announcements.  However, the proposal is to host the events at the beginning of February in Hong Kong, given the central Asian location.