The VISTA conference aims to provide a platform for the academic world, athletes and professional experts so they can meet and exchange information, research and expertise related to Paralympic sport and the Paralympic Movement.

The ninth edition will take place in Amsterdam from September 4 to 7 and has the theme of "Healthy and Fit for Optimal Performance".

Prior to the Opening Ceremony of the four day event, five workshops will take place.

Topics will range from statistical learning techniques for classification research to testing wheelchair athletes on the latest technological equipment.

Attendees will pay for the bonus workshops they will attend, with availability on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Scientific Award will be given out at the conclusion of the day, with the winner delivering a keynote speech.

The next three days of the IPC conference will begin with keynote speeches from well-renowned sports science professors.

South Africa's Leslie Swartz, a professor from the University of Stellenbosch, will give a speech entitled "Para-sport development from grassroots: A view from Africa".

Swartz is a leading social scientist in disability studies in the region and as editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Disability is currently researching issues related to access to healthcare for people from vulnerable groups in four African countries.

Marjan Olfers, a professor in sports and law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, will discuss "Fair play…play it fair", challenging the concept of fair play from a philosophical legal perspective and citing recent cases of match-fixing, sexual abuse and discrimination, especially regarding Para-athletes.

Olfers carried out postdoctoral research at the Asser Institute in The Hague and wrote her thesis about sports and European Union competition law.

Britain's Nick Webborn, the chair of the British Paralympic Association and a professor of sport and exercise medicine at the University of Brighton, will also present.

As a leading expert in sports medicine, he will give a talk called "The past, present and future of Paralympic sports medicine".

A variety of presentations that dive deeper into Para-sports science will follow each speech.

Symposium topics on the second day of the conference will include counter measuring heat in athletes, equipment and technology in Para-sports and classification research.

Presenters will share their research during sessions that cover evidence-based classification and sociology, with the day concluding with an informal outing in Amsterdam for more networking opportunities.

The third day will focus on athlete health and well-being, including athlete preparation, injury prevention and protection.

A poster session and exhibition will also see academics display and discuss their research about the Paralympic Movement.

The conference will conclude with practical sessions regarding athlete health, technology and classification on September 11.

An invited symposium will see three experts share their insight on Para-sports psychology.

The programme can be accessed here.