WELCOME MESSAGE

The city of Lisbon – European Capital of Sport 2021 (ACES Europe and ACES Portugal) will host the 44th edition of the APTN Technical-Scientific Congress. The adoption of exceptional measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic during the current year has led us to schedule this event for the 1st to the 3rd of October 2021.

This edition, which will take place in the auditorium of the Lisbon Forum will be particularly special for two main reasons. First, because we yearn for a return to face-to-face training, which will allow us to benefit from an incomparable environment of proximity, sharing and interaction with our technical community. Considering that the current contingency measures may limit the capacity of the auditorium, online participation will be a possible alternative. Secondly, because we also host the I European Swimming Coaches Conference (ESCC), a partnership with the World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA), the Portuguese Swimming Federation (FPN), the Portuguese Sports and Youth Institute (IPDJ) and several other national and international partners that support us in this unprecedented initiative.

The program will be divided into two parts. In the first two days, the ESCC will take place, with several conferences, interviews and round tables (in English) – on October 1st, the focus will be on the predicting, planning and implementating effective training programs; on the 2nd of october, we will address the monitoring of training and the effectiveness of the coach’s intervention. The last day of the congress, already in Portuguese, will be directed to the teaching of swimming and to the management and technical direction of swimming clubs and schools. The extended panel of speakers will be composed of coaches, swimmers, researchers and specialists with an international dimension, who will provide an extraordinary training experience. We will maintain the possibility of submitting free oral communications, which will be made available in video format to all participants, and then published as a summary in the magazine Motricidade, which has been a fundamental partner of APTN in the communication and dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Valuing evidence-based practice is a quality that has characterized us since 1977. But other assets will also contribute to the success of the “APTN Congress” brand over the years, namely the opportunity to socialize with peers and the public recognition of merit. This year, for the first time, we will recognize the pedagogical competence of the swimming teacher in its effect on students’ learning, on their aquatic safety, on their quality of life and on their basic sports training.

We place an enormous expectation on this event, especially counting with your.

See you in Lisbon!

The President of the Board,

Aldo M. Costa