IOC consensus statement on recommendations and regulations for sport events in the heat

Yannis Pitsiladis

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    This document presents the recommendations developed by the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission and several international federations (IF) on the protection of athletes competing in the heat. It is based on a working group, meetings, field experience and a Delphi process. The first section presents recommendations for event organisers to monitor environmental conditions before and during an event; to provide sufficient ice, shading and cooling; and to work with the IF to remove regulatory and logistical limitations. The second section summarises recommendations that are directly associated with athletes’ behaviours, which include the role and methods for heat acclimation; the management of hydration; and adaptation to the warm-up and clothing. The third section explains the specific medical management of exertional heat stroke (EHS) from the field of play triage to the prehospital management in a dedicated heat deck, complementing the usual medical services. The fourth section provides an example for developing an environmental heat risk analysis for sport competitions across all IFs. In summary, while EHS is one of the leading life-threatening conditions for athletes, it is preventable and treatable with the proper risk mitigation and medical response. The protection of athletes competing in the heat involves the close cooperation of the local organising committee, the national and international federations, the athletes and their entourages and the medical team.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)8-25
    Number of pages18
    JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine
    Volume57
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 23 Sept 2022

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    The consensus meeting was funded by the IOC.

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2023 Author(s). Published by BMJ.

    Keywords

    • heat-shock response
    • hot temperature

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