Atlanta 2006, Amsterdam 2008, Toronto 2010.  It has been electrifying to see the international momentum growing around the emergence of Physical Activity and Health.  When the first ICPAPH Congress in Atlanta was conceived, there was not a thought given to creating a biennial event. At the time, we were not sure if anyone would actually attend the first Congress! 

The overwhelming successes in Atlanta and Amsterdam (under the extremely capable direction of Willem van Mechelen) have made it clear that the ICPAPH series should continue to grow and nurture the science and practice in Physical Activity and Health.  I am convinced that the Toronto Organizing Committee will create and host a first-class congress that will continue to blow a favourable wind in our sails.

The Toronto Congress will also be the first in the young existence of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH).  ISPAH is another step forward in the growth of the field - a international professional society dedicated to growing the field of Physical Activity and Health.  It is very clear that the international demand for such a professional society has grown immensely in the past 10 years.   ISPAH was created to meet this demand and to focus specifically on physical activity as a public health issue.  The Toronto Organizing Committee has been very helpful in allowing ISPAH opportunities to help shape the program for 2010.

For more information, or to join the International Society for Physical Activity and Health, please visit the website www.ispah.org

I encourage you to submit an abstract for program consideration to Toronto 2010 and I look forward to seeing you there!

Bill Kohl

President and Founder, International Society for Physical Activity and Health

University of Texas School of Public Health and Department of Kinesiology and Health Education

Austin, Texas, USA