Athlete health and safety at large sporting events: the development of consensus-driven guidelines.

Margo Mountjoy, Jane Moran, Hosny Ahmed, Stephane Bermon, Xavier Bigard, Dominik Doerr, Alain Lacoste, Stuart Miller, Alexis Weber, Jeremy Foster, Richard Budgett, Lars Engebretsen, Louise M Burke, Vincent Gouttebarge, Marie-Elaine Grant, Brian McCloskey, Paul Piccininni, Sebastien Racinais, Mark Stuart, David Zideman

Journal: British journal of sports medicine 2021;55(4):191-197

PMID: 33184113

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Abstract

All sport events have inherent injury and illness risks for participants. Healthcare services for sport events should be planned and delivered to mitigate these risks which is the ethical responsibility of all sport event organisers. The objective of this paper was to develop consensus-driven guidelines describing the basic standards of services necessary to protect athlete health and safety during large sporting events. By using the Knowledge Translation Scheme Framework, a gap in International Federation healthcare programming for sport events was identified. Event healthcare content areas were determined through a narrative review of the scientific literature. Content experts were systematically identified. Following a literature search, an iterative consensus process was undertaken. The outcome document was written by the knowledge translation expert writing group, with the assistance of a focus group consisting of a cohort of International Federation Medical Chairpersons. Athletes were recruited to review and provide comment. The Healthcare Guidelines for International Federation Events document was developed including content-related to (i) pre-event planning (eg, sport medical risk assessment, public health requirements, environmental considerations), (ii) event safety (eg, venue medical services, emergency action plan, emergency transport, safety and security) and (iii) additional considerations (eg, event health research, spectator medical services). We developed a generic standardised template guide to facilitate the planning and delivery of medical services at international sport events. The organisers of medical services should adapt, evaluate and modify this guide to meet the sport-specific local context.

Address: Bureau-Sport Medicine Liaison, McMaster University Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada [email protected].; Medical and Scientific Commission-Games Group-Sport Medicine, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Medical and Scientific Commission-Games Group-Sport Medicine, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Medical Commission, International Skating Union, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.; ADU, International Handball Federation, Basel, Switzerland.; Sports Medicine, World Athletics, Monaco.; Sport Medicine, Union Cycliste Internationale, Aigle, Vaud, Switzerland.; International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), Budapest, Hungary.; Sports Medicine, World Rowing, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Science & Technical Department, International Tennis Federation, Roehampton, UK.; Medicine & Science, FIFA, Zürich, Switzerland.; Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), Lausanne, Switzerland.; Medical and Scientific Department, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Switzerland.; Nutrition Working Group, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Mental Health Working Group, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Medical and Scientific Commission Games Group-Physiotherapy, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Medical and Scientific Commission-Games Group-Public Health, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Medical and Scientific Commission-Dental, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Medical and Scientific Commission-Games Group Sport Science: adverse weather impact, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Medical and Scientific Commission Games Group-Pharmacy, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.; Medical and Scientific Commission-Games Group Anaesthesiologist and Emergency Pre-Hospital Care Consultant, International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.

DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102771

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MeSH Terms: Athletes, Consensus, Delivery of Health Care, Emergency Medical Services, Focus Groups, Humans, International Agencies, Internationality, Public Health, Risk Assessment, Safety, Sports