A sensational display of breakdancing by performer Redo brought the audience at the WCPT Congress 2019 opening ceremony to their feet in the Geneva Arena on 10 May.
WCPT Chief Executive Officer Jonathon Kruger said: ‘The opening ceremony was a celebration of all that’s great in the global physical therapy community. The presentations gave us all an opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to how we’re growing and developing.
‘Weaving diversity and inclusion throughout the evening shows how far we’ve come.
‘The sense of excitement, anticipation, joy, warmth, and support in the arena made my role as MC a pleasure.’
Other entertainment included a performance by a Swiss alp horn group and flag-throwers.
The audience heard from a number of speakers, including:
- Emma Stokes, WCPT President
- Pia Fankhauser, physioswiss President ad interim
- Esperanza Martinez, ICRC Head of Health
- Charlotte Häger, Chair of WCPT’s Congress Programme Committtee
- Anne Moseley, recipient of the Mildred Elson award
The audience heard more than 4,300 delegates had registered for congress from 131 countries, and that 60% of physical therapists across the world are women. At congress, women accounted for 61% of the speakers and 65% of the delegates, chairs and speakers came from 91 countries.
