ECSS 2023: European College of Sport Science Congress

Welcome to ECSS Paris 2023 – the 28th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science!

We are thrilled and honoured to be hosting this important sport science event from 4-7 July 2023 – one year prior to the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris, a century since the 1924 edition, and 28 years after the first ever ECSS congress took place in Nice. Paris will open its doors to the ECSS family.

With more than 40 million tourists per year, Paris is the most visited city in Europe. It has an endless list of historical and beautiful must-sees and things to do. ECSS Paris 2023 offers you the chance to discover this city for yourself, by visiting our iconic monuments and sporting venues whilst enjoying outstanding science. Paris promises an exceptional experience in an exceptional setting!

Beach volleyball will be held opposite the Eiffel Tower on the Champ-de-Mars. Fencing and taekwondo will take place under the glass roof of the Grand Palais. Archery will be on the esplanade at Invalides. All are approximately 10 minutes by metro from the congress venue! The Pont d'Iena is also the venue for road cycling and the park of the Palace of Versailles for equestrian events. These are not to be missed!

Since Paris was attributed with the organisation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city and whole region is experiencing an incredible enthusiastic atmosphere. It has stimulated promising research initiatives and strong scientific networks dedicated to supporting elite sport practitioners in the race for the gold medal. Research projects have emerged, embracing the most exciting areas of sport science, such as: athlete’s lifestyle, injury prevention, psychology, human-material interactions, learning and optimisation of movement, paralympic performance, training load monitoring, big data and AI.

Interestingly, the results from these projects are expected in 2023, therefore creating a fantastic momentum to share emerging knowledge across the sport science community and beyond, during the year of ECSS Paris. We sincerely hope this unique context will invite you to embrace the motto of the congress: “Explore, Enlighten, Perform”.

We strive to create a unique programme for ECSS Paris 2023, full of inspiring science and memorable moments. The congress will host an ECSS-IOC joint symposium, where high profile researchers will share their work developed in the IOC Research Centres for the Prevention of Injury and Illness. Prior to the congress and in collaboration with ACAPS, we will be hosting live-translated sessions to ensure inclusion of French-speaking researchers from Africa, North America and South America. We are also eager to organise innovative satellites which bring together sport industry, business and the scientific community.

Last but not least, we are working with our partners and local authorities to arrange a number of exciting social events that will take the congress to unique sites around the city and offer an unforgettable experience for ECSS participants!

You are warmly invited to enter the doors of the City of Lights and be a part of the Olympic and Paralympic journey.

Paris vous attend! / Paris is waiting for you!

Yours in Sport Science,

The ECSS Paris 2023 Organising Team

Gaël Guilhem (Local Congress President)

Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance