The event will focus on the theme of ‘The Management of Risk in Sport’ and will feature keynote speeches from Jean-François Lamour, French Minister of Sport, and FIA President Max Mosley. They will be joined on the conference programme by senior officials from the International Olympic Committee, American Football’s NFL, the world of Football, Rugby, Skiing, Cycling and Boxing.

Jean-Francois Lamour commented: "Risk-taking is one of the major characteristics inherent in practising a sport. So how can one manage the risks connected with a sport, without at the same time curbing the athletes’ or teams’ performance? The experts who will be speaking at this first summit will cast a new light on this problem and examine potential solutions."

The Summit will be held at the Paul Ricard circuit on 18-19 January 2007 and will represent the first time the subject of risk in sport will have been tackled at a high-level seminar.

Max Mosley said: “This is the first of what we hope will be a number of joint seminars with other major sporting bodies which aim to address some of the significant issues facing sport today. We are grateful for all the support we have received from Minister Lamour and it is appropriate that we commence this new programme with the first ever high-level conference about the effective management of risk in sport, a subject which is of increasing concern for every organiser, competitor or regulator world-wide.”

The Management of Risk theme will be introduced by Summit Chairman and FIA Institute Deputy President Professor Gerard Saillant. It is a subject in which Saillant, an orthopaedic surgeon who has operated on some of the world’s top sporting stars, is particularly experienced.

Professor Saillant added: “Sport, if it is poorly understood or practised incorrectly, or even excessively, can entail risks that can pose a threat to the health of the athlete concerned. Furthermore, in modern sport there are new risks, which also affect the national institutions, organisers, and even spectators. These include legal and financial risks as well as risks to public safety. The aim of this summit, which will have the advantage of bringing together a panel of international speakers from various sports, is to define these risks and propose solutions to prevent them."

The Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in France has been the first circuit facility to be recognised by the FIA Institute as a Centre of Excellence.

Click here to download the full conference programme.
Click here to download the delegate registration form.