Years of hard work and preparation

Physiotherapists in key positions have been working for years to ensure the success of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In January 2011, Dr Marie-Elaine Grant was appointed the physiotherapy representative on the International Olympic Committee's Medical Commission (Games Group). She describes her role and how the profession is gaining influence at the highest level of world sport: “The role of the IOC Medical Commission physiotherapist is to monitor physiotherapy activities and facilities for the 205 nations participating at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

"I am also responsible for providing the Medical and Scientific Department of the IOC with guidelines on physiotherapy policy, proposing and supporting sports physiotherapy and rehabilitation research projects, and providing recommendations for the organisation of physiotherapy and physical therapies services at the Olympic Games. I am the main contact person for the IOC for all issues related to physiotherapy and rehabilitation.”

Dr Grant has worked in elite Olympic sports over the past 20 years and has been the lead physiotherapist with the Irish Olympic team for the past five major Olympic Games, from Barcelona in 1992 to Beijing in 2008. She has also presented at many Sports Medicine Conferences including IOC sports medicine symposia during the 2008 Games. She has worked with many sports medicine colleagues over the years and has been actively involved in clinical research completing her PhD in 1997. After the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games a position for a physiotherapist on the IOC Medical Commission became available and she was very honoured to be appointed.


Information from The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT).