Epilogue to sport and exercise psychology: international perspectives

Abstract

[Introduction]: In August 2005, after several years of preparation, the plans finally became reality. Almost 600 delegates from over 50 countries descended on the Darling Harbour Convention Centre, in the heart of the beautiful city of Sydney, Australia to attend the 11th ISSP World Congress of Sport Psychology, Promoting Health and Performance for Life. For five stimulating days, sport and exercise psychologists from around the world came together, ostensibly to share their research findings and practitioner experiences and to hold business meetings, but in reality to do much more--to engage in impromptu seminars over lunch, to plan research collaborations, to socialize together, and to forge lifelong friendships. In short, they came to strengthen the worldwide sport psychology community. Even the sometimes fickle Sydney weather put on a big, sunny smile befitting the occasion. This chapter has been written to serve three purposes; firstly, to provide a brief commentary on the contributions to this book of the keynote and invited presenters; secondly, to document the principal events over the period of ISSP 2005, including the highlights of the scientific and social programs; and thirdly, to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the 11th World Congress, using both quantitative and qualitative delegate feedback data plus our own impressions of the event.