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Partnerships

Staying Healthy at the Olympics

No one will soon forget the record-breaking performances and inspiring stories from the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. For CDC, the games presented a golden opportunity to educate US athletes on avoiding travel-related illnesses, while also developing a lasting partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

Travel health experts used research published by CDC before the Olympics to learn the most commonly reported health issues in travelers to China: respiratory infections, skin problems, diarrhea, and injuries (including dog bites). Armed with these data and a growing relationship with the USOC, CDC began to develop creative strategies for educating Beijing-bound travelers on staying healthy.

A team of health communicators developed health education materials with input from USOC contacts for US athletes, coaches, and Olympic team staff, reinforcing CDC’s work to protect and promote Healthy People in a Healthy World. In addition, the team created materials for the general public and health care providers:

• The Team USA Travel Health Handbook was created and distributed to 1,400 members of the US delegation, and it provided information tailored to the specific needs and concerns of athletes, such as medications and doping regulations.
• Posters were placed in housing and recreation areas in Beijing to remind US athletes how to avoid foodborne illnesses, insect bites, sunburn, and heat-related illnesses.
• A Web page was housed on the CDC Travelers’ Health Web site called Gold Medal Travel Health Tips for the 2008 Olympic Games. This site linked to health information for the general public, children, health care providers, and participating Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
• Three electronic greeting cards were created that focused on travel health, and one was created especially for athletes to send to each other.
• A podcast was created that used special characters to educate children on how to stay healthy while at the Olympics.

CDC and the USOC continue their partnership in evaluating communication efforts and conducting focus groups with US delegation members. In addition, CDC’s Travelers’ Health Communication and Education Team will create additional travel health posters to be placed permanently at the USOC training headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our CDC team will continue to work towards keeping US athletes and spectators healthy as they travel to “bring home the gold!”

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