The course, which will be supported by Olympic Solidarity and the Sports Medicine programme in cooperation with the medical and scientific International Olympic Committee (IOC) department, aims to promote education and knowledge in athlete health and wellbeing, with the final goal to gain an IOC Diploma in sports medicine and become a member of the COC medical team.

The programme was established by the Medicine Commission of the IOC after recognising the important role medicine plays in protecting athletes' health.

It is designed primarily to meet the needs of team physicians from the National Olympic Committees and International Federations and is operated on behalf of the IOC by sportsoracle too ltd.

Building on existing programmes offered by leading universities around the world, it embraces an international faculty to offer a programme that is beyond the resources of any single institution.

It focuses on health and performance implications of participation in elite sport, but will also look at the role of physical activity, nutrition and other lifestyle factors in promoting good health, according to the IOC.

The deadline for applications is Thursday (August 21) and they can be sent in person to the COC headquarters or by email to [email protected].

According to the application guidelines outlined by the COC, applicants are required to "be in possession of a bachelor's or equivalent degree in medicine from a recognised medical course and be eligible for registration as a professional medical college".

Applicants must also speak relatively good English with certification to prove it, be willing to complete the full two-year course and cooperate with the COC following its conclusion, and have the ability to cover all additional costs that are not covered by the grant, including compulsory residential workshops.

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