University departments of sports medicine are no longer a dream. Their expansion brings changes to the way sports medicine is perceived, thrusts new leaders into the spotlight, and changes the relationship between sports medicine, medical royal colleges, and sports organisations. Academic interest in sport and exercise medicine is being driven by many factors. Sport attracts money, a commodity that universities lack, and they see financial opportunity in the increasingly commercial world of academia. Sport attracts publicity and universities are waking up to the marketing potential of high level sport. Sport attracts students and, in this new commercial world of education, student numbers have a major impact on income. Increasing demand and a clear role for academic sports medicine mean that the discipline is ripe for expansion.

Universities are aware of this growing potential and every year we see increasing integration of sport and exercise medicine into undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. With increasing teaching commitment, the demand for sports medicine education will soon exceed the expertise available. At present it …