The Impact of New Sports on Athlete Injuries and Illnesses at the Tokyo Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics has brought a new wave of urban dance style breaking into the spotlight, while the 2020 Tokyo Olympics introduced seven new sports, such as karate and climbing. The addition of these new sports has brought excitement and innovation to the games, but research shows that they also come with a higher risk of injuries and illnesses for athletes.

Researchers from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) conducted an audit of injuries and illnesses at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The report revealed that out of 11,315 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees, there were a total of 1035 injuries and 438 illnesses reported over the 17-day event. This translates to an average of nine injuries and four illnesses per 100 athletes.

While the overall injury rate of 9 percent was similar to previous games, it was noted that some of the new sports had disproportionately high rates of injuries. Sports like boxing, BMX racing, BMX freestyle, skateboarding, and karate had the highest incidence of injuries, with rates ranging from 19 to 27 percent. The reasons behind this disparity could be attributed to various factors such as weather conditions, venue, equipment design, and athlete training practices.

In addition to injuries, heat illnesses also affected 78 athletes during the Tokyo Olympics. The soaring temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius, coupled with high humidity levels, made it challenging for athletes to perform at their peak. However, the mitigation efforts put in place, such as event relocation, training in similar conditions, hydration, shade, and ice baths, helped in managing the heat-related issues.

While the COVID-19 measures at the Tokyo Olympics were successful, the researchers suggested that future games should be held in cooler environments to reduce the risk of exertional heat illnesses. This would not only benefit the athletes in terms of performance but also lessen the resources needed for implementing heat illness countermeasures.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics highlighted the impact of new sports on athlete injuries and illnesses. While these sports brought excitement and diversity to the games, they also posed challenges in terms of athlete safety. It is crucial for sports governing bodies to analyze the data from injuries and illnesses and take proactive measures to mitigate risks in future events. By prioritizing athlete well-being and safety, the Olympic Games can continue to thrive as a platform for sporting excellence and innovation.