Yudu - sportEX dynamics - 1999-2010

2012 OLYMPICS UPDATE

BY LYNN BOOTH, PHYSIOTHERAPIST AND SPORTEX MEDICINE EDITOR

In just over two and a half years time the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will begin. Our vision within the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is to use the Games to inspire change. The Olympic and Paralympic Games is the largest sporting event in the world and will generate enormous excitement and enthusiasm, which many people want to be part of and if they are not actually competing , volunteering is the best way to do this, either as a general volunteer or for a specialist role.

VOLUNTEERS AT THE GAMES

Volunteers are at the core of the Games and essential to all the functional areas that make up this global festival of sport. Information about the recruitment of up to 70,000 volunteers will published on the London 2012 website (www.london2012. com) from summer 2010, but it is worthwhile for interested sports massage practitioners to gain an understanding as soon as possible about what might be expected of volunteers and decide whether they have the desire and attributes required to volunteer as a sports massage practitioner.

OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC MEDICAL SERVICES There will be three Olympic and Paralympic Villages and five sites for the football venues (spread around Great Britain). The 26 sports will compete in 34 venues at the Olympics and 21 venues at the Paralympics. There will be 10,500 athletes at the Olympic Games and 4,200 athletes at the Paralympic Games coming from 205 and 147 countries respectively. The Olympic Games last for 17 days and the Paralympic Games for 11 days with each Games having a two week build up prior to the Opening Ceremony when medical services have to be provided; this means a commitment period of over two months in total.

PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES Physical therapy encompasses chiropractic, osteopathy, physiotherapy and sports massage. A physical therapy service will be provided at:

COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES: VOLUNTEERING

n the main Polyclinic in the Olympic Village (in East London) n the smaller Polyclinics at Royal Holloway (rowing and canoeing) and Weymouth (sailing) n and at all the competition venues and some training venues.

Working within their scope of practice, sports massage practitioners will use their knowledge, skills and experience to provide pre-event and post-event sports massage