Aspetar gets International Handball Federation (IHF) recognition. Aspetar is the first Sports Medicine Hospital in the world recognised as a reference centre by IHF. Doha 1st February 2015: Following the outstanding medical services provided by Aspetar during the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship, which was held in Doha from 15th January to 1st February 2015, the International Handball Federation (IHF) has invited Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital as to become The IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health world wide. Reached during a meeting of the IHF Executive Committee on Monday 26th January in Doha, the agreement was announced today, Sunday 1st February, during the signing ceremony held at Lusail Multipurpose sports Hall Media Centre, and was attended by Dr. Hassan Mustafa, IHF President, and Dr. Khalifa AlKuwari, Aspetar Director General, as well as other officials and sports personalities. Aspetar, as the first sports medicine hospital in the world to be recognised by IHF, will work closely with both the federation and all international handball teams worldwide to provide clinical services and concepts for injury and illness prevention, as well as collaborate on research and education with unique sports science services associated with the handball family. Aspetar made an impressive contribution to the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship by providing comprehensive sports medicine services to the world’s best players, simultaneously collaborating with the IHF Medical Committee to successfully organise the “Conference on New Sports Medicine Concepts in Handball”, which took place on 23rd and 24th January, by offering a unique programme covering all medical aspects of the game. In addition to conducting an Injury and Illness Surveillance Study during the championship, Aspetar also pioneered a project involving a detailed video analysis of all the games played during the championships using a bespoke product developed by Prozone™. Dr Khalifa AlKuwari, Aspetar Director General, said,

“This global recognition from the International Handball Federation is added to the other acknowledgments obtained by Aspetar in the recent few years. It gives us more proud and encourages us to make greater efforts to achieve the leadership in Sports Medicine. Together with the International Handball Federation, we will collaborate to maintain the health of athletes and the development of their performance and contribute to improved methods of treatment”.

As a reference centre for handball players worldwide, Aspetar will continue to lead the development of sports medicine in handball, and will be appointed the official IHF partner to support the organisation of the second “Conference on New Sports Medicine Concepts in Handball” to be held during the 25th Men’s Handball World Championship 2017 in France. About ASPETAR. ASPETAR is a world leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world football expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally. In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence” by F-MARC and “IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014. ASPETAR is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.