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A New Opportunity for Public Health Development: Athens 2004

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Jeffrey Levett
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Extract

A number of organized and universally publicized, large-scale events take place each year in many parts of the world that involve a population at greater risk. Large gatherings provide a theater of operations for public health and more thought now is being given to these issues. The Olympic Games is the largest, single event that is concentrated into one significant geographical space that unfolds over a period of weeks and involves a transient population. From Atlanta to Sydney, a growing awareness of public health issues has occurred, and there is a clear recognition that much more preparation is necessary for all future events. Therefore, it is mandatory that we recognize that the Olympic Games, Athens 2004 is a potential venue for accidents as well as for purposefully precipitated acts leading to suffering, disability, and death. The organization and management of public health is a major hurdle for Athens 2004. At a minimum, hospital and emergency medical services must be in an optimal state of readiness, a network of public health laboratory services must be deployed, and human resources must be retooled.

Keywords

developmentGreecemass gatheringsmanagementOlympicsplanningpublic health
Type
Editorial
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , June 2004 , pp. 130 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2004

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References

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