The first week in April, the Federation Internationale de Chiropratique Sportive (FICS) senator in Venezuela, Dr. Luis Valera, arranged for some extraordinary meetings in Caracas, the capital. On his invitation, through the government of Venezuela, the FICS was asked to send a delegation to Venezuela. They were to present an overview of the scientific basis of the chiropractic subluxation complex and discuss the role of chiropractic in sports science and the chiropractic treatment of sports injuries.
The FISC delegation consisted of Dr. Valera; Dr. Stephen Press, founding president; Dr. Stephen Perle, the treasurer/registrar; and Douglas Greene, a member from California.
The FICS delegation received regal treatment. Representatives of Brigadier General Lara of the Venezuelan National Guard saw to it that the delegation did not have to wait in lines at customs and immigration. General Lara provided his personal driver/aide and car for the delegation's use. The contingent was given a tour of the center of Caracas, a very modern, vibrant, and beautiful city.
The next day the delegation went to the headquarters of Maraven, one of the nationalized oil companies of Venezuela. All of Venezuela's oil companies are held by PDVSA. The delegation made their presentations on chiropractic to the medical staffs of all of PDVSA's oil companies. More than 60 orthopedic surgeons and neurologists from Venezuela and the Caribbean came to Caracas for the meeting.
Dr. Press spoke on the history of chiropractic. Dr. Perle explained the scientific rationale for the chiropractic subluxation complex and its role in treating work and sports-related injuries. There was a question and answer session that was scheduled for a half-hour but because of the high level of interest shown, the session lasted almost an hour.
The next day the group's presentation was very well received by the medical officers of all four branches of the Venezuelan military. Drs. Valera and Press were co-moderators and introduced the speakers. Dr. Greene gave an excellent presentation on inflammation and tissue repair. Dr. Perle, as before, gave a superb presentation and led the question and answer session.
The military presented the members of the FICS delegation with diplomas. Then at a luncheon with the leaders of the National Guard and its medical corps, the delegation was presented with individually inscribed copies of a very rare and treasured book by the famous Venezuelan historian and author, Tomas Polanco, El General de Tres Soles (The General of the Three Suns) about the general that founded the Venezuelan National Guard. The book was written four years ago to commemorate the National Guard's 50th anniversary.
Lunch was unique: "lapa" was served, the meat of the capybara, the world's largest rodent and considered quite a delicacy. In fact, throughout the trip the doctors were treated to wonderful meals.
Dr. Valera arranged for a meeting with Senora Flor Isava-Fonseca. Senora Isava-Fonseca is from Venezuela and is the first female member of the International Olympic Committee's (I0C) Executive Council. Dr. Valera is her chiropractor, as well as the chiropractor for President Lusinchi of Venezuela. In 1984, Dr. Valera was a member of the Venezuelan medical team at the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles.
The Venezuelan hospitality was absolutely overwhelming. Thanks go to many people: the doctors of the Sociedad Venezolana de Quiropracticos; special thanks to Dr. Valera for the opportunity to have been of service; Generals Maya and Lara of the Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion de Venezuela; Senora Flor Isava-Fonseca for the time she gave us and the help she has promised; Mr. Asnoldo V. Devonish, coordinator of Sports and Human Resources of the PDVSA, who will soon be honored with the I0C Olympic Order; Mr. Paco Diez, president of the Venezuelan Institute of Sports; Dr. Javier Rodriquez-Davalillo, medical director of the Venezuelan Institute of Sports who made it possible for other sports specialists to attend and participate; Dr. Wilmar Martinez, director of medicine at PDVSA; Dr. Adolfredo Saez P., manager for medical business at Maraven; and finally to Major Jesus Gil, D.D.S., Ph.D. and Jose, the general's aide, who helped make this trip a pleasure.
Federation Internationale de
Chiropratique Sportive (FICS)
