The BRICS inaugural conference on exercise and sports sciences (BRICSCESS) is being held in Santos, Brazil from November 29 – December 2 on the theme: “Sports Mega Events and Health Promotion: Policies and Legacies in Exercise and Sports Science”.

Our President Dr. Prashant Bhalla is the Honorary President of the BRICS Council of
Exercise & Sports Science (BRICSCESS) and is representing the country at this historical global event.

While reiterating the words of our Hon’ble Prime Minister during his welcome address at the conference, Dr. Prashant Bhalla said: “I am honoured to represent India that my Prime Minister described rather aptly during his recent visit to South Africa as the country that can be well defined in a four letter word – HOPE, i.e. Harmony, Optimism, Potential and Energy”.

He shared the dais with many Exercise & Sports Sciences veterans including the Secretary of Sports, Santos; Dr Ming Kai Chin, Founder President, BRICSCESS; Prof. Dr. Ricardo Ricci Uvinha, Founding VP, BRICSCESS; Prof. (Dr.) Odair Aguiar Junior, Co-Director, Federal University of Sau Paulo; Prof. (Dr.) Flavio De Oliveira Pires, Co-Chair, Post Graduate Studies, Federal University of Sau Paulo; Assist. Prof. (Dr.) Nara De OLIVEIRA and Dr. G L Khanna, Vice President BRICSCESS, Dean MRIU.

It is noteworthy that BRICSCESS was founded in recognition of the need to address the specific concerns of BRICS in respect of the health and wellness of the people in the regions. The purpose of the BRICSCESS is to promote communication, interaction and cooperation among all academies, research institutes, universities, researchers and students in the field of exercise and sports science in BRICS economies.

While sharing Manav Rachna’s philosophy: ‘A sound mind in a sound body’, he added: “Sports and education are inextricably linked, with physical education and sports having a crucial role in the holistic education of our students. Physical education and sports is an essential dimension of education and culture which must develop the abilities, will-power and self-discipline of every human being as a fully integrated member of society. The continuity of physical activity and the practice of sports must be ensured throughout life by means of a global, lifelong and democratized education. It should be our collective endeavour as major emerging economies, comprising 43 per cent of the world population to achieve excellence in the pursuit of exercise and sports science. Our agenda at the BRICS Council of Exercise and Sports Science (BRICSCESS) is clear and well-defined – we will strive to usher in the world’s best practices to boost our nations’ health and wellness needs”.

Prof. (Dr.) G L Khanna will be deliberating upon the ‘Impact of Indian Professional Leagues and International Competition on Health Promotion’ during the four-day conference.