Menu
Olympics

USOC To Hire Infectious Disease Specialists As Zika Fears Grow Among Olympians

The USOC yesterday said that it will "name at least two infectious disease specialists, one of whom will be a woman, to consult with all prospective U.S. Olympians and members of the delegation" about the Zika virus, according to Christine Brennan of USA TODAY. USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said, “The Zika virus is a concern for a number of our athletes, and we want to make sure they get all relevant information. We will continue to receive information from the Centers for Disease Control and share that information with the athletes and staff members on a regular basis.” The CDC has said that the virus "remains in the blood for only about a week." Blackmun said that he would be "sending a note to all USOC staff members as well as the national governing bodies for each Olympic sport." Blackmun said the infectious disease specialists “will be available to talk privately with any athletes, male and female, who have concerns." Women's Sports Foundation President Angela Hucles: "As an athlete, you rely so much on your government and your federation to investigate on your behalf so you can focus on the Olympics and the job you have to do. I’m sure there is concern right now, and you don’t want to have any external worries or concerns when the stakes are so high and you’re playing at such a high level. That takes away time and energy from what you should be doing, which is to prepare for the Olympic Games" (USA TODAY, 2/11). Both NBC's "Today" and "CBS This Morning" ran stories on the Zika virus today, with NBC's Tom Costello noting the mosquitoes carrying the disease "pose a very real threat to pregnant women." The USOC has stated that it is "up to individual athletes to decide whether they feel comfortable travelling to the Games this summer" ("Today," NBC, 2/11).

NOT CHANGING HER STANCE: USWNT G Hope Solo last night reiterated her position that she would not want to go to Rio at this time last night, but said, "Fortunately the Olympics are about six months away, so I believe that we have time to get some of our doubts and questions answered. We’re working closely with doctors, with U.S. Soccer, with the Olympic committee. Hopefully there’s things that can be done in a short amount time. But we do take it very seriously. I take my health very seriously. We all do, and it needs to be addressed and we need to feel safe when we go to Brazil.” USWNT coach Jill Ellis said their team physician "addressed it." Ellis: "It’s still very much in the early phases of collecting information about this to really get a handle of it. That’s kind of what we said to the players" (CHRON.com, 2/10). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser asked,"If top athletes declined to go, would the Olympics still be the Olympics?" ESPN's Michael Wilbon brought up boycotts in '80 and '84 and said, "We've seen political strife diminish the Olympics." Kornheiser noted female athletes are facing serious dangers if they become infected and asked, "Why, when you consider your life, the entirety of your life, put yourself at this kind if risk?" Wilbon asked, "Are the men who run these organizations going to take this seriously enough because it affects women?" ("PTI," ESPN, 2/10).

ON THE CLOCK: ESPN Brazil's Rubens Pozzi said the country is "facing a huge financial crisis, and it affects directly the investments in health and social care." He said the government is "running against the clock" to be ready for the Rio Games. Pozzi added of the government efforts to eradicate mosquitoes who carry the virus, "They don't have money enough to do it quickly in an emergency mode but people are not helping so I can't imagine how Brazil is going to contain this disease." Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Kent Sepkowitz said six months is an "eternity in epidemics," and to "make a judgement in February about August is actually foolish." Sepkowitz: "Were the Games to start next week or next month, sure, they would have to be cancelled, but it will literally be a different climate, it will be a different season. My guess is that Zika will have gone through the Brazilian population within the six months and it's the visitors we'll have to worry about" ("OTL," ESPN, 2/10).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/02/11/Olympics/USOC.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/02/11/Olympics/USOC.aspx

CLOSE