Atlanta is a young, vibrant city with a mission: to prepare itself to host the 1996 Olympic Games. Even at this early stage, diverse city and state organizations are gearing up for the event. One such organization is the newly-formed 1996 Atlanta Sports Chiropractic Advisory Committee, created to secure a niche for chiropractic care at the Games.
During its initial meeting, the committee unanimously elected Suzanne Bisset, D.C., CCSP to the office of chairperson and Richard Rosenkoetter, D.C. to the office of secretary. The committee is rounded out by DCs Tom Hyde (president of the ACA's Sports Council), Steve Nudleman, Tracy Watson, and Deloss Brubaker.
The committee has outlined its three main goals:
- to maximize chiropractic availability and use during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Towards that goal, the committee will make a presentation to the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (AGOC). Said Dr. Bisset, "We want to do a unified presentation to the Atlanta organizing committee and to be able to directly participate in the needed care of athletes during the Olympic Games."
- to hold a scientific sports chiropractic symposium in Atlanta two or three weeks prior to the Olympics, which will not only provide an opportunity to present current research but also to provide "hands-on" work for sports chiropractic education. The symposium would be interdisciplinary in nature, assuring full coverage of the latest developments in sports and athletic-related chiropractic research.
- to amend current Georgia chiropractic law to allow out-of-state DCs the special privilege of practicing in Georgia on special occasions. "Currently, we have no provision in state law to allow out-of-state doctors to come in and practice at these kinds of (sporting) events," said Dr. Bisset. "In order to have maximum utilization (of chiropractic services) during the 1996 Olympics and prior to the Olympics as well, we need to have a change in the law."
Regarding the important role of the new chiropractic Olympic committee, Dr. Bisset said, "We want to not only have the greatest amount of utilization during the 1996 Olympics, but also to have the greatest presence as well."
Represented at the committee's June meeting were the ACA's Sports Council; the ICA's Sport Council; the U.S. Olympic Committee; the Federation Internationale de Chiropratique Sportive (FICS); the Georgia Chiropractic Association (GCA); Life College; the Georgia Chiropractic Board of Examiners; and the GCA Sports Council.
"Everyone involved," said Dr. Hyde, "wants to do it and do it right."
If you are interested in participating or would just like more information on the 1996 Atlanta Sports Chiropractic Advisory Committee, contact the Georgia Chiropractic Association at (404) 688-3730 or Dr. Bisset at (404) 564-3334.
