Today the 11th of June 2008 represents exactly two years to the kickoff of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and it is appropriate at this stage to reflect on important milestones on the journey to the first African FIFA World Cup.   One of them is the provision of health and medical services for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a key task in the event operations requiring wide-ranging skills and expertise.

The overall medical programme ranging from injury prevention, nutrition consultation to anti-doping activities pre and during the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 is managed by FIFA Chief Medical Officer Prof Jiri Dvorak in close collaboration with OC general medical Officer Dr Victor Ramathesele.

"At the occasion of the inauguration of the FIFA Medical Centre at Wits University in Johannesburg back in March I was very pleased with what I was shown by the OC Chief Medical Officer. And also knowing the high standard of medical care at the different South African University and private hospitals, I have no doubt that already now the medical facilities in South Africa will satisfy the FIFA World Cup requirements. We still have time for improvement and will exercise our collaboration for the first time during the FIFA Confederations Cup in June 2009, said Prof. Dvorak, for whom 2010 will be his fifth FIFA World Cup as FIFA Chief Medical Officer. A formal meeting between the FIFA Chief Medical Officer and his OC medical colleagues is scheduled for February 2009 to finalize the shared duties and responsibilities for the event.

In this regard the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) has appointed today (11 June) a team of experts in various areas of healthcare to serve as its Medical Advisory Team to ensure involvement of the local healthcare industry and assist in the local implementation of the FIFA's and the OC's Health and Medical Services Plan for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup. Chaired by Professor Martin Schwellnus ( Professor of Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Sports Physician at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa), the Medical Advisory Team will participate in the formulation of policies, protocols and Standard Operating Procedures for provision of essential medical services at various venues and events. This includes the 24 hour availability of specialist and Sports Medicine services for the participating teams. It will also coordinate scientific support, medical education and training for the healthcare providers. The OC is pleased and honoured that luminaries such as world-renowned sports scientist Professor Tim Noakes and leading neurosurgeon Professor Sam Mokgokong and cardiologist Professor Bongani Mayosi have agreed to serve in this structure.

Doping control is next to injury prevention one of the key issues of FIFA World Cup activities, with the OC being responsible to provide doping control services and infrastructure for all matches in coordination with the FIFA Medical Department. Khalid Galant, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the South African Institute for Drug-free Sport and Dr. Pieter van Der Merwe, head of the WADA-accredited Doping Control Laboratory of the University of Free State in Bloemfontein, will ensure that the best services will be provided for those tournaments.

Our medical team is supported by the FIFA Medical Officers appointed to coordinate medical activities, research and Doping Control services at each match venue. These individuals work in close collaboration with the OC Venue Medical Officers, who are responsible for the management of all medical services in the match venue and Host City, including transfer of patients to accredited hospitals. The OC takes great pleasure in welcoming ten accomplished doctors who will be serving in this capacity for both tournaments and related events� said the Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Dr Danny Jordaan.

These are professionals who have been chosen for their expertise and experience in the areas of research, emergency medicine, mass gathering medicine and sports medicine. They also have vast knowledge of the medical personnel and services in the Host Cities they are responsible for. The LOC Medical Officers will establish for each stadium a medical centre for Players and Match Officials and another for FIFA, the OC and their guests.

"In addition they will also manage the two stretcher teams for the pitch, each comprising a doctor and four paramedics. They will be working closely with Government service providers who will be managing emergency medical posts for spectators and the media in the stadium. Key to the assignment of South Africa as host of 2010 was the provision of Government Guarantees which include a commitment to improve health infrastructure as well as provision of health and medical services to all participants of the event," said Dr. Irvin Khoza, Chairperson of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa. The appointment of Mr. Peter Fuhri (Head of the National Department of Health's 2010 Unit) to the OC Medical Advisory Team ensures the necessary collaboration with Government structures and services at all levels.

"The OC has a legacy policy that seeks to ensure that football has sustainable gains that derive from the 2010 FIFA World Cup and related activities. With regard to health and medical services, and in close collaboration with SAFA structures including the Premier Soccer League, the OC has embarked on a campaign to involve healthcare professionals who are associated with football in most of these activities,"� added Dr Khoza.

The improvement of medical facilities and services in the stadiums will help us achieve these legacy ideals. This will be further enhanced by the Education, Training and Development courses that the LOC Medical Advisory Team will be developing for the service providers. This includes the third FIFA International Football Medicine Conference scheduled for February 2010 in Sun City.

Dr. Victor Ramathesele, the OC's General Medical Officer, said “We are delighted and highly encouraged by the number of healthcare professionals who have heeded this call and the cooperation we have received from SAFA, the regions, the PSL and the clubs in this regard. This augurs well for our successful hosting of these events and achievement of our legacy objectives. As the OC Medical Department we also acknowledge the outstanding support we have received from Government, FIFA and the FIFA Medical Office in all our activities.�

The following members have been appointed to the LOC Medical Advisory Team:

Chair: Prof. Martin Schwellnus- Chairperson

Members:

1. Dr Victor Ramathesele
2. Prof. Efraim Kramer
3. Prof. Sam Mokgokong
4. Prof. Tim Noakes
5. Prof. Mike Lambert
6. Prof. Bongani Mayosi
7. Prof. Pieter van der Merwe
8. Mr. Peter Fuhri
9. Mr. Khalid Galant

Ex-officio members:

Mr. Dennis Mumble (Chief Competitions Officer)

Secretary:

Ms Mapule Mogane

OC VENUE MEDICAL OFFICERS

1. SOCCER CITY

PROFESSOR EFRAIM KRAMER

MB BCh (Witwatersrand)

Fellowship of the South African College of Surgeons (FCS) in Neurosurgery

• Professor and Head of Division of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand
• Chief Specialist, Department of Emergency Care, Johannesburg Hospital
• Honorary Director, Rescue South Africa

2. ELLIS PARK

DR DEMITRI CONSTANTINOU

MBBCh (Witwatersrand);

BSc (Med. Hons) Sports Science UCT

Advanced Team Physician ( FIMS and ACSM)

• Director: Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand
• Regional Coordinator and Central Committee Member : South African Sports Medicine Association
• Member: American College of Sports Medicine

3. CAPE TOWN

PROFESSOR WAYNE DERMAN

MB.ChB (Wits) MSc (Sports Medicine) UCT; MD (UCT)

Fellowship of the American College of Sports Physicians, FACSM

Fellowship of the International Sports Medicine Federation, FFIMS

• Associate Professor of Sports Science and Sports Medicine, South African Institute for Sports Science
• Chief Medical Officer for NOCSA, Sidney Olympics 2000 and Athens Olympics 2004
• Flight Doctor, Cosmonaught Michel Shuttleworth, 2002
• LOC Venue Medical Officer- Africa Cup of Nations 1996

4. TSHWANE/PRETORIA

DR. CHRISTO JANSE VAN RENSBURG

MBChB. MMed (PhysMed)

• Head of Sports Science -University of Pretoria
• Sports Physician Pretoria High Performance Centre
• Chairperson: Gauteng Branch of the South African Sports Science Association
• Member of Education Committee- International Federation of Sports Medicine and Member of Medical and Scientific Commission- SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee( SASCOC)

5. RUSTENBURG

DR. MMUSO RAMANTSI

MBChB (Medunsa)

MSc (Sports Medicine) University of Pretoria

• Former Team Doctor, Jomo Cosmos
• Team Physician, World Student Games, China and South Korea
• Medical Officer, SAFA Inter-provincial Tournaments
• Medical Officer, All Africa Games, Johannesburg 2001

6. POLOKWANE

DR. ERIC NELUHENI

MBChB (Natal)

• Head of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pretoria.
• LOC Venue Medical Officer, Johannesburg, Africa Cup of Nations 1996
• Former Team Doctor- Orlando Pirates

7. MBOMBELA

DR. MAKI RAMAGOLE

MBChB (Medunsa)

MSc (Sports Medicine) University of Pretoria

FIFA Futuro I and 11

• Team Doctor - South Africa Senior Women's National Team
• Sports Physician and Senior Lecturer- ( High Performance Centre) University of Pretoria
• Member- SAFA Doping Commission

8. MANGAUNG/BLOEMFONTEIN

DR LOUIS HOLTZHAUZEN

MBChB (Free State)

M Phil (Sports Medicine) UCT

ACLS; PALS

• Director of Health; Head of Sports and Exercise Medicine Clinic and Programme Director of Masters Programme in Sports Medicine in the University of Free State
• President-elect: SA Sports Medicine Association (2007)

9. NELSON MANDELA BAY

DR. MTUNZI NGCELWANE

MBChB (Natal)

• Executive Committee Member-South African Orthopaedic Association
• In private practice at Greenacres Hospital in Port Elizabeth with special interest in Sports Orthopaedic Surgery

10. DURBAN

DR MZUKISI GROOTBOOM

MBChB (Natal)

• Past President of SAMA KZN
• Executive Member of SA Orthopaedic Association
• In private practice at City Hospital and Crompton Hospital in Durban with special interest in Sports Orthopaedic Surgery.