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Review of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) medical services during the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Doha, Qatar
  1. H Paul Dijkstra1,
  2. Liesel Geertsema1,
  3. Nejib Benzarti2,
  4. Elsbeth A L van Dorssen1,
  5. Cees-Rein van den Hoogenband3,
  6. Margo Mountjoy3,4
  1. 1Sports Medicine Department, Aspetar Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha Qatar
  2. 2National Sports Medicine Program, Aspetar Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar Swimming Association, Doha Qatar
  3. 3Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) Sports Medicine Committee, Lausanne, Switzerland
  4. 4Department of Family Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
  1. Correspondence to H Paul Dijkstra, Sports Medicine Department, Aspetar, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, P.O. Box 29222, Doha, Qatar; paul.dijkstra{at}aspetar.com

Abstract

Background One of the primary roles of Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) is to promote athlete health. The planning and delivery of major international event medical services is carried out in collaboration with the Local Organizing Committee Medical Commission (LOCMC). Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital provided the medical services to the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) creating a unique opportunity for collaboration with FINA.

Aim The purpose of this paper is to review the planning and delivery of medical services and athlete health promotion projects during the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) to facilitate the planning of future sporting events of this size and scope.

Methods The 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) hosted 974 athletes from 166 countries. The LOC medical team recorded all medical encounters—newly incurred (or acute exacerbations of chronic) injuries and illnesses as well as follow-up consultations.

Results More than 90% of teams did not travel with a team physician and relied on the LOCMC for diagnosis and treatment of injuries and illnesses in athletes and accredited team officials. The LOC medical team had a total of 554 medical encounters: 385 therapy, 34 athlete injury, 65 athlete illness and 70 non-athlete encounters.

Conclusions The LOCMC in collaboration with FINA delivered comprehensive medical services to athletes, officials and spectators attending the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m). This review paper provides information relevant to the planning and delivery of LOCMC medical services for future international swimming events contributing to the FINA objective of promoting athlete health.

  • Sports medicine
  • Injury prevention
  • Illness
  • Aquatic sports
  • Swimming

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