The IXth International World Symposium on Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming was held in Saint-Etienne in France from June 21 - 23 2002, under the auspices of the World Commission of Sport Biomechanics and the Steering Group of Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming. The main conference organisers were the Laboratoire de Physiologie of the Medical Faculty and Service d'Exploration Fonctionnelle Cardio-Respiratoire et Médecine du Sport of Saint-Etienne Hospital. The conference was a joint effort with several other organisations as well. The Department of Physical Education of the University of Saint-Etienne, the City of Saint-Etienne, the Conseil Général de la Loire, the Conseil régional Rhône-Alpes, the Association des Chercheurs en Activités Physiques et Sportives, the French Swimming Federation, the INSERM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Société de la Loire de Médecine du Sport and the société française de Médecine du Sport were the main public sponsors of the Symposium.
