Cal State Northridge professor Carole Oglesby, chair of the university's Department of Kinesiology, has been invited by the Greek Olympic Committee to take part in the Pre-Olympic Congress 2004, "Sports Science Through the Ages: Challenges in the New Millennium," which begins later this week.

"It is both a privilege and a wonderful opportunity to exert influence through participation in this event, as it has increasingly captured the attention of sports and sports science leaders around the world," Ogelsby said.

The Pre-Olympic Congress, which takes place from Aug 6-11 in Thessaloniki, Hellas, is one of the largest multidisciplinary, professional meetings in the field of sports science. The congress brings together some of the leading scientists and academics from around the world to talk about all aspects of sports -- from performance to ethics.

Oglesby has been invited to take part in a roundtable discussion on ethics as well as to speak at a symposium on "Women's physical activity and health: International considerations related to ethnicity and race."

"While there is inequity for women and girls globally, the void in the lives of women in the developing world cries out for attention. Their quality of life and longevity are going to be compromised by economic, social and cultural limitations to developing healthy active lifestyles," she said.