By Tracey Liebman
Faculty Peer Reviewed
The summer games may be over, but we’re still entertained by the 2012 Olympics! Here are a few medicine-related fun facts about the London Games.
Demographics of Summer 2012 Olympics:
10,500 athletes, 70,000+ volunteers, 20,000 media and journalists, 10+ million spectators [1]
Medical care:
26 million dollars provided by the National Health Service (NHS) to build the state-of-the-art medical building in the Athletes’ Village for the Olympics [2]
500 people expected to use the medical clinic each day [2]
46 sports medicine doctors, 80 other specialists on call at the clinic [2]
95% of cases expected to be minor illnesses or injuries [2]
Injuries:
1055 injuries reported in 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 72.5% of injuries occurred during competition [3]
11.2% of athletes in 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics reported injuries [4]
Top 10 biker in prior Olympics, British cross-country mountain biker suffered from a fractured ankle after falling on rocks during the race [5]
162 kg lift attempted by South Korean weightlifter, but athlete ended up with a dislocated elbow [6]
7th place in floor routine, World Champion gymnast Jordyn Wieber was found to have a possible stress fracture in her leg [7]
Infection:
1364 food, swab, cloth, and water samples collected from London vendors to evaluate for good hygiene procedures in preparation for the Olympics. 8% of food samples and 52% of water samples were of unsatisfactory quality [9]
3-5% projected increased demand for medical care in London during the Olympics 22761253 [10]
1100 cases of measles in England and Wales in the past year – thus, Americans were strongly encouraged to be vaccinated prior to traveling to Olympics [11]
Athletes and doping:
6.8% of young elite athletes admitted to doping in a 2010 anonymous survey, though doping tests only reveal 0.81% prevalence of doping [12]
3 cross country skiers at 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics found to have darbopoeitin in their urine. Their 8 medals were sanctioned [13]
5 athletes disqualified from 2008 Beijing Olympics for using a long-acting 3rd-generation EPO [13]
47,361 square feet of space for one new anti-doping laboratory in London, functioning 24 hours/day [14]
6000 blood and urine tests predicted to be carried out during London Olympics [15]
150 antidoping scientists carrying out the tests [15]
2 sports in London games in which beta blockers are prohibited: shooting and archery [16]
31-year-old shot-putter disqualified in London Olympics and stripped of her gold medal due to testing positive for the steroid metenolone [17]
23-year-old Syrian 400-meter hurdler disqualified from London Olympics for using stimulant methylhexaneamine [18]
73-kg-class, 23-year old American Judo competitor disqualified from London Olympics due to testing positive for marijuana [19]
23 athletes provisionally suspended, 7 athletes disqualified during London Olympic Games [20]
Nutrition:
8 to 12,000 – number of calories reportedly consumed daily by Olympian Michael Phelps [8]
Tracy Liebman is a medical student (Internal Medicine), NYU Langone Medical Center
Peer Reviewed by Neil Shapiro, Editor-In-Chief, Clinical Correlations
References:
2. Torjesen I. Olympic site polyclinic “will be most tangible health legacy” of games, says medical chief. BMJ 2012;344:e4334.
3. Junge A, Engebretsen L, Mountjoy ML, et al. Sports injuries during the Summer Olympic Games 2008. The American journal of sports medicine 2009;37:2165-72.
4. Willis C, Elviss N, Aird H, Fenelon D, McLauchlin J. Evaluation of hygiene practices in catering premises at large-scale events in the UK: Identifying risks for the Olympics 2012. Public health 2012;126:646-56.
5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18908685
7. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48552157/ns/sports-olympic_sports/
9. Willis C, Elviss N, Aird H, Fenelon D, McLauchlin J. Evaluation of hygiene practices in catering premises at large-scale events in the UK: Identifying risks for the Olympics 2012. Public health 2012;126:646-56.
10. Torjesen I. Doctors will see increased demand during Olympics despite preparations. BMJ 2012;345:e4585.
11. Tanne JH. US travellers to the London Olympics are warned about contracting measles. BMJ 2012;344:e2357.
12. Striegel H, Ulrich R, Simon P. Randomized response estimates for doping and illicit drug use in elite athletes. Drug and alcohol dependence 2010;106:230-2.
13. Fitch K. Proscribed drugs at the Olympic Games: permitted use and misuse (doping) by athletes. Clin Med 2012;12:257-60.
14. Kayser B, Broers B. The Olympics and harm reduction? Harm reduction journal 2012;9:33.
15. Hunger M. Would-be cheats face barrage of tests at London Olympics. BMJ 2011;343:d5847.
18. http://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-disqualifies-hurdler-almouhamad-for-anti-doping-violation/172166