Athletes first, please
The Olympic Games have origins dating back to Ancient Greece, specifically in the city of Olympia, in 776 B.C. These games were held in honor of Zeus, the principal god of the Greek pantheon, and were one of the most important festivals in Hellenic culture. The Games were an event that brought together Greek city-states in a competition that included races, wrestling, boxing, the pentathlon (which combined running, jumping, discus throw, javelin throw, and wrestling), among other disciplines.
The Olympic Games originated as a religious festival in honor of Zeus. In addition to the athletic competitions, the event included sacrifices and offerings at the Temple of Zeus in Olympia. During the Games, an Olympic truce was proclaimed, allowing athletes and spectators to travel without fear of war between the cities. This emphasized the importance of peace and unity in Greek culture.
Greek athletes trained rigorously to participate in the Games. This promoted a culture of regular physical exercise and the importance of training for physical and mental development. The emphasis on exercise and sport also had a social impact, as athletes were admired and respected in Greek society.
In the Middle Ages, the Olympic Games were suspended in 393 A.D. by Roman Emperor Theodosius I, who banned pagan events. During this period, physical activity and sports did not hold the same cultural prominence, and the direct impact on public health diminished.
In 1896, Pierre de Coubertin revived the modern Olympic Games, with the first event held in Athens. The modern Olympic movement promoted sport and physical exercise on a global scale. This modern revival of the Games contributed to popularizing sport and exercise worldwide. This has had a positive impact on public health, encouraging active and healthy lifestyles, and has served as a platform to promote exercise and health globally.
The Olympics have spurred the construction of sports facilities, the development of physical activity programs in schools and communities, and the promotion of the importance of sport for mental and physical health.
However, despite the benefits, concerns have also arisen about the health and well-being of athletes due to extreme pressure to perform at the highest level, the risk of injuries, and the use of performance-enhancing substances. As we are seeing right now, the men’s individual triathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics has had to be postponed after water quality tests revealed that the Seine did not meet the required standards.
For the third consecutive day, the Olympic organizers have not allowed the use of the Seine for competitions.
This article is published with uncertainty about whether, as of today, July 31, the triathletes will be able to enter the water or not. However, a global event of this nature and significance should respect the physical and mental integrity of athletes, as well as have contingency plans prepared to be activated if necessary. In this case, it would have been more than predictable and would have avoided disrupting their preparation plans and creating unnecessary uncertainty, which is not advisable for high-level competition.
The sports industry still has a long way to improve in terms of taking care of athletes’ health, and of course, with technology as a key intersection.
Athletes first, please.
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