Dr. Walt Thompson,
Regents Professor of Kinesiology and Health, recently returned from Bonn, Germany. Bonn is the international headquarters of the International Paralympic Committee. Dr. Thompson sits on the Sports Science Committee. The International Paralympic Committee hosted VISTA 2011, a conference of international scientists who present, discuss, and debate important Paralympic scientific topics ranging from biomechanics and nutrition to athlete classification.
The VISTA Conference is a scientific conference designed to promote and advance the mission, goals, objectives and reputation of the International Paralympic Committee and provides a platform for sport scientists to meet with experts in the field of sport for athletes with a disability. The first VISTA Conference took place in Calgary, Canada in 1994. The success of this conference led to further conferences in Köln, Germany (1999), Melbourne, Australia (2000), Bollnäs, Sweden (2003) and Bonn, Germany (2006). Dr. Thompson was a member of the Scientific Committee and also presented on the minimal eligibility requirements of Paralympic athletes in power lifting, sitting volleyball, and sledge (sled) hockey.
