RELEASE AGREEMENT

I understand and agree that, as a result of participating in the Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, my image, likeness or voice may be recorded by photography, video or another medium. I hereby grant irrevocable and unrestricted permission to the European College of Sport Science e.V. and its representatives or assignees to use my image, likeness or performance in any medium and for any purpose. I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve such use or materials. By confirming this form you acknowledge acceptance of these terms. A delegate list will be available via the ECSS Congress App. The list will contain your first name, last name, affiliation and country.

DISCLAIMER

• We strongly advise participants to first check with the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country about entry and visa requirements before making travel arrangements.
• We strongly advise participants to contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate at least 3 months before the intended travel date.
• As there might be country-specific conditions that you are not aware of or changes in the process since you may have last informed yourself, it is still highly recommended that you obtain the most accurate information. In any case, please contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate.
• We strongly advise you to read the section on insurance and make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage.
• The ECSS and its local partners will issue a visa supporting invitation letter for entry into the host country only for the ECSS congress and for the time period of the ECSS congress as well as for registered participants only.
• It is the participant’s sole responsibility to request the visa supporting invitation letter from the ECSS (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
• The ECSS does not have the authority to contest the decision of any country’s Embassy or Consulate or any other government departments, nor will the ECSS appeal to the Embassy or Consulate on behalf of the applicant.
• All questions/concerns regarding the status of your visa must be directed to the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
• The ECSS disclaims all responsibility for medical, accident and travel insurance, for compensation for death or disability, for loss of or damage to personal property and for any other costs or losses that may be incurred during travel time or the period of participation.
• The ECSS does not take any responsibility and provides no reimbursement of paid registration fees if:
  • you receive a visa rejection notification,
  • you fail to obtain an entry visa,
  • you obtain your entry visa too late,
  • you are not able to enter the country.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Entering Italy

All participants intending to attend the ECSS congress in Rimini, Italy are urged to please check requirements to enter Italy.

Information for EU citizens and the Schengen area

To cross borders of Italy, a national ID card of the European Union or Schengen area (alternatively a passport) is required which should be valid for the whole time you are in the Italy. For holiday or short trips you do not need a visa. Detailed information can be found here.

Information for non-EU citizens

For most participants from non-EU countries, a visa is required to enter Italy. Further information on the entry to Italy and visa application can be found here and on the entry visa process here. Click here and answer four short questions to check whether a visa is required for you. If yes, you will be provided with the visa application requirements and addresses of local Italian Embassies or Consulates. In order to apply for a visa, we strongly recommend that you contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country immediately. The requirements may vary from country to country and they could also vary from time to time, therefore it is crucial that you contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate of your home country.
You should check the entry requirements before registering for the congress or making any travel arrangements. Follow the instructions indicated by the Italian Embassy or Consulate. Only register and make travel arrangements once you have consulted the Italian Embassy or Consulate and that you are convinced that you have enough resources to obtain the necessary visa.
In some cases, appointments are needed to schedule face-to-face interviews and these can be booked out for months in advance. In other cases, the process to obtain certain documentation needed to secure the visa can also be time-consuming. The ECSS urges all non-EU citizens to immediately take action.
Please note that the ECSS does not take any responsibility if you obtain your visa too late and cannot enter Italy. Should you fail to obtain an entry visa in time to attend the congress, no reimbursement of paid registration fees can be issued.

ECSS congress invitation letter

The local organisers of the ECSS Annual Congress can issue a congress invitation letter in case it is requested by the respective Embassy or Consulate. Please note that invitation letters are issued to registered congress participants only. Please follow the below instructions to obtain an invitation letter which apply to everybody, regardless of having submitted an abstract or not:

1. Log in to or create a new ECSS account.
2. Go to 'myCongress' and pay your registration fee.
3. Please send a request for a congress invitation letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., indicating your ECSS account ID.
4. The invitation letter will be sent to you in PDF format via email. If you require a printed copy, please mention this in your email request and provide the postal address. Please note that international delivery might take up to several weeks. If you ask for an invitation letter too late and require an express delivery, this comes at your own expense and must be reimbursed to the ECSS.
5. As the visa application process might be lengthy, we strongly advise you to register for the congress in due time. Please find further information regarding the registration fees and deadlines here and here.

Insurance

When visiting Italy, participants should be able to financially cover medical and other services in case of an accident, injury or any other sudden event. The ECSS urges and strongly encourages all participants of the ECSS congress, to obtain comprehensive international travel medical insurance for their period of participation. Travel medical insurance may be mandatory, when applying for a visa.

If you travel internationally, you should buy appropriate travel insurance with a coverage limit of up to €30,000 before your journey begins. If you already have a travel insurance, check the extent to which it provides coverage for events caused by the coronavirus, including medical treatment and trip interruption, as well as planned activities such as adventure sports. If you decide to purchase a new policy, check how it covers these issues.
If you do not have appropriate insurance before you travel, you could be liable for emergency expenses, including medical treatment, which may cost thousands of euros.

A good travel insurance policy for Italy should cover the following costs:

• Emergency treatment and hospital bills can be expensive. Check whether your policy covers treatment in public or private hospitals.
• Emergency transport, such as an ambulance, is often charged separately to other medical expenses and emergency travel home on medical grounds can also be expensive.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: declare existing conditions or pending treatment or tests so that you are covered if anyone gets ill during your trip. Failing to declare something may invalidate your travel insurance.
• All activities you may undertake on holiday, such as sports or adventure tourism (you may need specialist insurance for some activities). Also consider all the places you intend to visit, even if you are in transit, in case anyone needs emergency treatment in another country.
• Cruises generally require an additional level of cover because it is more difficult to get to hospital for treatment. Check the booking conditions of the operator you plan to sail with.
• Repatriation costs if you or a family member die abroad.
• Getting home after medical treatment if you cannot use your original ticket.
• Reasonable costs for a family member or friend to stay with you, or travel out to accompany you home, if required.
• 24-hour assistance helplines to offer support and advice about appropriate treatment.
• Within Europe, some insurers may waive any excess on medical treatment if you use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Check the terms of your policy or contact your insurer to see if this is the case. EHIC allows you to access state-provided medically necessary healthcare within the EU and Switzerland on the same terms as residents of these countries. Note that EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance as it does not cover any private medical healthcare costs, repatriation or additional costs such as mountain rescue in ski resorts. Find out more about the EHIC, including how to apply for one free of charge.
• ATOL is a consumer protection scheme for air holidays and flights, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Some insurance policies do not provide cover for when airlines or suppliers go out of business. Choose an ATOL-protected holiday or a travel insurance policy that includes airline or supplier failure cover.