Foreword

As one of the four founders of the Asian Council of Exercise and Sports Science (ACESS) it is with pride and personal fulfilment that I write this welcome message for the ACESS official website. In doing so, it is important to acknowledge the other three founding members: Prof. Dr. Tae-Won Jun from Korea, Prof. Dr. Mario Imson from Philippines and the late Prof. Dr. Jasson Chiang from Taiwan.

 

During the 20th C., sport played an increasingly important role in the world’s social, political, economic, cultural and educational systems. In the first two decades of the 21st C., sports science has developed at a phenomenal and impressive rate. It has contributed to the development of sports and physical activities throughout the world with deliverable and transformative strategies using a creative, innovative, interdisciplinary approach.

 

ACESS was founded in 2001 to promote communication, interaction, and cooperation among Asian exercise and sports science professionals and students in educational, scientific and research institutions. It also encouraged the exploration of issues in holistic health, sport, fitness, and healthy living for sustainability specific to the Asian regions and culture.

 

Presidents and Executive Board members over the last 19 years have established extensive linkage and co-operation between institutions and organizations. Furthermore, a global Sports Science network between the Asia Pacific region and the international community has been created. This network constantly evaluates best practices to ensure that there is ever changing professional advancement. To ensure that such practices are disseminated throughout the Asian region nine Asia-Pacific Conferences on Exercise and Sports Science (APCESS) have been organized. Since 2001, Korea, Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, India, and Thailand have hosted such conferences with 300-400 local and international delegates at each conference.

 

Our late Founder, Prof. Dr. Jasson Chiang, organized the APCESS 2013 at Chinese Culture University, Taiwan with the theme “Caring for the Future Generation: A Holistic Approach Leading Towards Health and Active Living”. ACESS will continue to fulfil his vision by supporting young scholars such as Future Leaders and Volunteers (FLV) for their professional advancements in research and community services.

 

ACESS will continually emphasise the need for governments, academic institutions, civic groups, businesses and individuals to band together to create sustainable, systemic change impacting individual and community health and wellness through exercise and sports science in supporting the 17 United Nation Sustainable Development Goals ( 17 UNSDGs).

 

On behalf of the Executive Board, I sincerely thank you for your continual support of ACESS.