During the NeuroTrauma 2024 conference, Cambridge locals learned why heading a football has been given the red card in children’s
tournaments.
Local convention bureau Meet Cambridge worked alongside The
International Neurotrauma Society (INTS), a body of scientists and clinicians
tackling brain and spinal cord injuries, to bring the 2024 conference to Cambridge for
the first time in early September.
The conference utilised 13 different Meet Cambridge venues
across four days, including Robinson College, The Cambridge Corn Exchange, The
Guildhalls and the Babbage Lecture Theatre.
The conference also incorporated a Public Symposium and a
Charity Football Match which took place on Parker’s Piece. It involved brain
injury neuroscientists and clinicians, football coaches, ex-professional
players and recreational players to showcase the English Football Association’s
recent under nine rule changes regarding the dangers of heading and the science
behind the decision.
Judith Sloane, head of Meet Cambridge said: “It was very
exciting to see all the plans made over the last five years come to fruition
this September. NeuroTrauma 2024 really did showcase all that Cambridge has to
offer including complimentary walking tours and we hope that delegates will
have gone away with great memories of their time in our wonderful city.
The conference also resulted in an estimated £922K worth of
economic impact to the city, calculated using VisitBritain Business Events
Research, Delegate Spend and Trip Extensions Report 2017.
“We worked closely with the committee over our 12 site
visits and meetings and were delighted to help secure just under £30K in
funding via the VisitBritain Delegate Growth Fund for the conference,” added
Slaone.
“We are also very grateful that NeuroTrauma 2024 has
supported our own positive impact campaign, Meet Up & Make a Difference to
help reduce food poverty in the city.”
Surplus food was donated to a local community-based charity
which provides support for those who are rough sleeping.
Professor Peter Hutchinson added: “Meet Cambridge has been crucial
in helping us, from the early stages to now having hosted this major conference
here in Cambridge. Not only were they instrumental in securing the fantastic
venues, but they also linked us with VisitBritain and enabled us to obtain
additional funding, which allowed us to grow the event even further.
“This was no ordinary conference; by using multiple venues,
our delegates really have been able to experience the city fully and I know
that they are now returning to their home countries having had the unique
opportunity to connect with peers and exchange knowledge which will help us to
drive forward neurotrauma research. We were very honoured to have been selected
to host this meeting and are grateful to everyone who made it possible.”
