ABSTRACT
This opening address provides an opportunity to place the Sixth World Congress in Science and Football in perspective. The event is held every four years, previous meeting having been organised in Liverpool (1987), Eindhoven (1991), Cardiff (1995), Sydney (1999) and Lisbon (2003). The meetings are held under the auspices of the World Commission of Science and Sports (WCSS). The WCSS has separate steering groups for football, swimming, skiing, racket sports and cricket, with a group dedicated to Science and Cycling recently formed.
