The three-day event, organised by the Fiji Physiotherapy Association in partnership with the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee Medical Commission and supported by the International Olympic Committee, took place at the Grand Pacific Hotel in the country's capital Suva.

It was held to help athletes competing in international competitions by discussing the latest research relating to sporting injuries.

Technical officials, as well as coaches, trainers and medical staff, from 28 of the nation's sporting federations went over matters leading up the Pacific Games, due to take in Papua New Guinea's capital from July 4 to 18.

The Conference was opened by Laisenia Tuitubou, Fiji's Minister for Youth and Sports, while speakers included Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) Medical Commission chair and New Zealand Olympic team doctor Chris Milne, Australian Sports Commission physiotherapist Mark Brown, Fiji rugby sevens coach Ben Ryan, Fiji football national coaching director Juan Carlos Buzzetti and officials from Drugs Free Sports Fiji.

Fiji rugby sevens coach Ben Ryan was among the speakers at the National Sports Science Conference to prepare the country's athletes for this year's Pacific Games ©Getty Images



"Further increasing social health issues across the Pacific region have become a regional cause for concern and an area where sport can be used as a major prevention strategy," ONOC executive director Dennis Miller said.

"This has been evident with increased financial resources in development of sport initiatives through the health and education sectors.

"In 2013 Fiji adopted the safety in sports policy, the aim of the policy is to identify key factors to safeguard against in order to minimise injury.

"The aim is to introduce clear, manageable and attainable guidelines to facilitate safe participation in sports."

Fiji is aiming to send more than 500 athletes to Port Moresby 2015 to compete in a number of sports, including athletics, basketball, boxing, cricket, football, golf, hockey, karate, lawn bowls, netball, sailing, shooting, squash, surfing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, rugby sevens, triathlon, touch rugby, va'a, indoor and beach volleyball and weightlifting.

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