#WMS2024
#WMS2024
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The 29th International Annual Congress of the World Muscle Society will take place at the Prague Congress Centre in Prague, Czechia, also known as the Czech Republic.
Prague is Czechia’s capital city and sits at the heart of Europe. Known as the city of 100 spires, Prague is famous for its architecture, its culture, and its beer!
Prague’s public transport network is known as one of the best and most reliable in Europe, combining a metro system with buses and trams to make even the furthest corners of the city easy to get to.
The Prague Congress Centre is fully wheelchair accessible and provides full accessibility for disabled people. The city itself is committed to being as accessible as possible and offers this guide for people to help people with physical or sensory disabilities to plan their trip. Please see the information here as well. If you think there is additional information we could add, please let us know.
Accommodation is not included in your registration fee for the Congress. Guarant International has been appointed as the official booking agent for the WMS 2024 Congress in Prague and will be happy to assist you with your hotel room reservation or other related arrangements. It has been brought to our attention that some delegates have been contacted by fake companies with regards to hotel bookings for the WMS 2024 Congress in Prague. Please read more here: https://www.wms2024.com/news/view/wms-2024-congress-hotel-email-scam
The Congress App will be made available to all delegates closer to the Congress. You will be able to view the programme schedule, digital posters and audio/video files, sponsor information, participate in session Q&A and polling, and connect with other delegates through the meeting hub.
The WMS provides grants of up to £500 GBP to assist WMS member in-person delegates who have costs associated with the care of themselves or a dependent/s during the Congress. More information here.
If you have any problems with the registration process or questions prior to or during the Congress, please contact the Congress Secretariat via e-mail [email protected].
The currency in Prague is the Czech Crown (CZK), also known as the Czech koruna (Kč). Exchange rates vary, but are around 1000 CZK = £36 / €42 / $45. Banknotes are issued in 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 CZK.
Large hotels, shops and restaurants often accept payment both in CZK and Euros. Local shops, bars, entertainment venues and tourist attractions usually accept payment in Czech Crowns only.
Pay by mobile (via Google Pay and Apple Pay) and major credit cards (including contactless cards) are widely accepted at hotels, shops, cafés, bars and restaurants in Prague, but some local shops, markets and cafés prefer cash.
While the Congress programme is pretty packed, we hope you will also have time to explore the city of Prague. The official tourist website for Prague includes a wealth of information on where to eat and drink, what to see and practical advice for visitors.
For Czech Republic there are two associated plug types, types C and E. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type E is the plug which has two round pins and a hole for the socket’s male earthing pin. Czech Republic operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Please note that WMS is unable to accept registration applications from patient parents/relatives or other members of the public. For full eligibility information please see: https://www.wms2024.com/page/registration
112 is the universal emergency number which will connect you to police, fire and ambulance services. This number can even be called from a mobile phone without credit or a SIM card.
Every year the WMS awards fellowships, funded by an annual royalty from Neuromuscular Disorders by Elsevier. For the WMS 2024 Congress WMS will support up to 100 fellowships awarded to help in-person Congress attendees with the costs associated with attending the Congress.
Prague is well served by public transport. The Prague Congress Centre is adjacent to the Vyšehrad station on Line C of the Prague underground railway network, providing convenient access by public transport from the city’s airport and all major rail and bus stations.
You will be issued with a Travel Pass ticket at registration, this can be validated for the duration of the Congress at one of the kiosks in the Metro station or on the bus or tram. Please note there will be only one ticket per person, if you lose your ticket we will be unable to replace it. You must have your Congress badge with you when you use the ticket.
For further information on the public transport system, including how to buy additional or replacement tickets, please visit the Prague tourist information website.
It takes approximately 30 minutes (50 minutes in heavy traffic) to reach the centre by car and about 40 minutes by public transport (bus + subway).
A key part of the annual WMS Congress is the networking that takes place whilst experiencing some of the cultural highlights that our host destination has to offer alongside other delegates attending. We have put together a varied selection of group activity options to choose from to suit everyone’s interests.
We have a busy exhibition of Industry Partners, you will be able to engage with each of them during the breaks. The floor plan will be available on the website and also on the Congress app.
Registration fees do not include insurance of any kind. It is strongly recommended to clear all travel and medical insurance issues prior to coming to Prague. Neither the Congress Secretariat nor the Organising Committee will take any responsibility for any participant of the Congress failing to insure themselves.
If this is your first time attending the WMS Congress, or you are attending on your own and would like to be introduced to other delegates when you arrive, please let us know via email in advance or at the registration desk at the venue. We will be happy to make some introductions so that you feel more comfortable.
WMS actively discourages any Congress sponsor or other organisation from organising any kind of meeting or event in parallel with the Congress programme. Especially if it takes Key Opinion Leaders or any Congress attendee away from the Congress programme, venue and activities. Any meeting or event which is organised before or after the Congress must not be badged in any way as a pre/post WMS event for example, nor any connection be made to attendees being able to attend as part of their WMS itinerary.
To continue our regular virtual meet-ups the Myology Café will take place in-person at the Congress in October on Level 2 of the Congress Centre.
The Networking Dinner will take place at the Municipal Hall on Friday 11th October. You will need to buy a ticket to attend this event through the registration system.
Your WMS Congress name badge must be worn at all times during the Congress and social activities. It will be required to gain access to the venue and sessions and is also required when you use your travel pass.
There will be an official photographer and videographer present throughout the Congress and social activities. Photos & footage will be shared on the WMS social media channels during and after the Congress. Photos will be available via the members section of the WMS website after the Congress. If you do not wish to be included in any photos or videos please make the organisers, photographer and videographer aware via the registration desk.
To support early career researchers and clinicians as you raise your professional profile, we will once again be providing opportunities to have professional profile photos taken. You'll be able to use these photos for presentations, programmes and more. All profile photo sessions will take place in Club Room H at the following times:
There are a number of opportunities to attend a live orchestra music performance when in Prague, these can be booked directly as follows:
7th October - music by Gustavo Santaolalla www.obecnidum.cz/en/programme/2024-10-07/gustavo-santaolalla/
9th and 10th October - Prague Symphony Orchestra - https://www.fok.cz/en/grieg-mendelssohn
12th October - Music from the movies - https://www.obecnidum.cz/en/programme/2024-10-12/music-from-movies-3106/
The performances of the State Opera can also be viewed at https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en/programme?d=2024-10-01
Embargoes stand until 12:00am Central European Standard Time (CEST). GMT +1 on the day of presentation for that abstract. For late-breaking abstracts, this will be the last day of the Congress.
NMD Journal, as the partner journal of the WMS and the WMS Congress has exclusive rights to publish the presentations in advance of the embargo.
Interviews with presenters, speakers or other people attending as part of the Congress agenda should be arranged through the communications lead, Catherine Ross. Vox pop style interviews with attendees are permitted. Embargoes should be respected at all times.
Because this is a hybrid meeting, the content may be available prior to the session being broadcast at the scheduled time in the programme. In this instance, the media embargo remains as stated above.
The registration desk will be open at the following times:
As a foreigner to the Czech Republic, you are entitled to receiving some of the VAT or sales tax back on purchases you made. Sales tax or DPH is 21% on most products and approximately 15% can be refunded. More detailed information is available here.
WMS has Facebook, X and LinkedIn accounts. Posts including photos about the Congress and related activities will be posted before, during and after the Congress.
If you have any specific accessibility, disability or mobility requirements, please do let us know as soon as possible.
The Time Zone in Prague, Czechia is Central European Standard Time (CEST). GMT +1. In the Congress programme, all times will be printed in CEST. You can check the time in Prague online.
Tipping in Prague is fairly standard. Most restaurants will add an 8-10% tip to your bill. If they don’t 10-15% is welcomed. This guide to tipping in Prague offers some useful advice.
While at the WMS Congress, you will have access to Prague public transport with a complimentary Travel Pass. You will receive your Travel Pass when you collect your name badge from the registration desk when you first arrive at the Congress. This means you will need to make your own way to the Congress venue from the airport or central train station. Your Congress name badge will serve as your ID when using your Travel Pass, so please make sure you have it with you whenever you travel.
Only one Metro ticket can be provided per delegate. It is your responsibility to look after your complimentary ticket. Unfortunately, if you lose it or it gets damaged, you will have to replace it yourself. Replacement tickets are available to buy within Prague's Metro stations. There is more information on travelling around Prague here.
International flights arrive at Prague Airport (PRG) (officially Václav Havel Airport Prague). The airport has two passenger terminals and is located 17km outside the city. Connections to the city centre are provided by public transport buses, AE - Airport Express buses, or Tick Tack-Airport Taxi. More information can be found here.
European delegates might prefer to travel by train. Three European railway corridors intersect in Prague, connecting the metropolis with the whole of Europe. The city’s primary train station is the Prague Main Railway Station, which sends over 200,000 trains a year to all major Czech cities and abroad. The second international train station is Prague Holešovice. Czech Railways is the largest national carrier in the Czech Republic; other major operators include RegioJet and Leo Express.
For more ways to travel to Prague, visit the tourist website for Prague.
More information on what to expect from the virtual platform will be shared closer to the Congress dates.
Czechia is a member of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen area. Therefore, most tourist visitors do not require a visa to visit Prague, just a valid passport (or ID card for EU citizens).
EU nationals must have a passport or ID card valid for the length of your visit (your passport must not expire before you leave Czechia).
UK & other nationals must have a passport valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave Czechia. Your passport must also be less than 10 years old.
Further information is available from the Czech embassy in your home country.
Please see our venue information.
The tap water in Prague is safe to drink. The quality of tap water in the Czech Republic is very high. You can drink tap water in Prague without worrying about unpleasant consequences.
Prague Weather in October is usually quite good, offering classic autumn temperatures (lows of 5-8 degrees C and highs of 10-13 degrees C). Usually it's not too cold and not too warm. The cooler weather and the low angle of the sun show off Prague’s stunning architecture and the buildings and river take on a different tone compared to the summer months.
A typical day has very cool mornings and evenings.
