THE Department of Youth and Sport will be hosting the 22nd Annual Sports Conference on Saturday, February 4th, at the National Sports Centre Pavilion, Frog Lane, Devonshire.

The keynote address will be presented at 9:00 a.m. by Dr Andrew L. Pipe, Director of the Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

Dr. Pipe has extensive experience in sport and sports medicine for many years. He has been the physician at six Olympic Games and has been recently appointed as Chief Medical Officer for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. He is a former president of the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Pipe is frequently consulted and quoted on issues related to drug use in sport, physical activity and health, and tobacco use and control. He was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1999.

Sports Minister Dale Butler will provide a synopsis of his sport observations over the past year and outline his vision for sport in 2006.

Mitch Lyons, a 24-year veteran basketball coach and founder of the non-profit GetPsychedSports.org will present a unique and challenging approach to sport administrators by showing how implementing a written, science based curriculum for coaches and text for students can teach young people how to think to be successful on the playing field, in their relationships and in their working life.

He said that sport psychology crosses three divides ? addresses unsportsmanlike conduct, provides practical techniques to improve emotional health, self worth and mirrors studies where "learned optimism" has been found as a way of teaching preventative mental health.

Also at the conference will be Helena Rawlins, Secretary of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Council for Amateur Sport who will provide a snapshot of the work of the Council and the ADR process in resolving Sports Disputes in Bermuda to date.

All sessions will include opportunities for delegates to question each presenter.

The registration fee for the main conference, $30 per participant, will cover all sessions of the conference and conference materials, and will also include refreshments. A buffet lunch on Saturday for registered participants will also be available.

Once again this year, Government are specifically requesting that at least Presidents and Secretaries attend the conference along with one other executive or member, so that there will be in attendance, representatives who are able to represent the positions of their bodies, and contribute to the discussions without having to seek further direction. Also sports clubs are invited.