A UNIQUE MEDICAL EXPERIENCE - THE 1992 BA RCELONA OLYMPIC GAMES

BACKGROUND: The request for medical attention derived from Olympic Gam es is variable, with few previously published experiences and thus, th e estimations made by the organizers are difficult. METHODS: The healt h care program established during the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barce lona is described and the clinical cases attended are reported. RESULT S: The number of persons accredited by the Barcelona Olympic Committee was 132,286, Health care attendance was provided in the sports instal lations, the olympic villages of the journalists and athletes, olympic family hotels, press centers and the International Youth Camp, A Poly clinic was in operation in the Olympic Village with a 24 hour Emergenc y Department, A total of 15,552 visits were made, 524 of which were se nt to the Emergency Department of the Olympic Hospital (Hospital del M ar in Barcelona). Three hundred twenty visits were programed in the Ou t Patient Departments of the Hospital and a total of 81 patients were admitted to the hospital with a mean stay of 3.9 days. The most common medical problems encountered were those related with the locomotor sy stem. CONCLUSIONS: The health care program designed for the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games was adequate to attend the health care demand requi red.