The VISTA Conference aims to provide a platform for the academic world, athletes and professional experts so they can meet and exchange information, research and expertise related to Paralympic sport and the Paralympic Movement. 

The ninth edition will take place in The Netherlands' capital city from September 4 to 7 and has the theme of "Healthy and Fit for Optimal Performance".

Three renowned sport scientists and experts will give a keynote speech at the event. 

South Africa's Leslie Swartz, a professor from the University of Stellenbosch, will give a speech entitled "Para-sport development from grassroots: A view from Africa".

Swartz is a leading social scientist in disability studies in the region and as editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Disability is currently researching issues related to access to healthcare for people from vulnerable groups in four African countries.

The next confirmed keynote speaker is Britain's Nick Webborn, the chair of the British Paralympic Association and a professor of sport and exercise medicine at the University of Brighton.

As a leading expert in sports medicine, he will give a talk called "The past, present and future of Paralympic sports medicine".

Webborn is also a member of the IPC Medical Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency List Expert Group.

Marjan Olfers, a professor in sports and law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, will then discuss "Fair play…play it fair", challenging the concept of fair play from a philosophical legal perspective, citing recent cases in the field of match-fixing, sexual abuse and discrimination, especially regarding Para-athletes.

Olfers carried out postdoctoral research at the Asser Institute in The Hague and wrote her thesis about sports and European Union Competition law. 

She has also led research investigating match-fixing in The Netherlands and a recently commissioned study to prevent sexual abuse in sports.

The keynote speeches will be delivered to the 300 attendees expected at VISTA, including world leading sport scientists, medical practitioners, coaches, athletes and sport administrators.

"This line-up reflects the diversity of research activity across disciplines in support of athletes, athlete support personnel and the IPC membership," Peter Van de Vliet, the IPC medical and scientific director, said.

"This is ultimately what VISTA wants to achieve. 

"It sets the tone for another exciting edition that should be marked on everybody's agenda."