United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace

En route to Brazil during the spring, the Olympic torch for the 2016 Summer Games stopped in Geneva.  The spirit of the Summer Games was touted at the United Nations Office during a special "Celebrating the Olympic Spirit" Program. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the Olympic Cup to the U.N., recognizing its continuing efforts to promote peace and sustainable development through friendly sport.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commented, "I sincerely thank you for this powerful recognition of the talented, dedicated and selfless women and men of our Organization...I thank all the United Nations bodies that are leveraging the power of sport. We are collaborating with athletes to inspire children. We are making the Games more green. We are joining forces to use this massive, global celebration of the human spirit as a reminder of our common humanity." (Source: https://www.un.org/sport/)

[Photo: www.un.org/sport/]

Within the U.N., its Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) promotes exchange of ideas, information and new partnerships to enhance education, health, development and peace. Youth may participate in Leadership Camps, learning to work on social and development projects benefiting their communities.

UNOSDP partnership examples include 1) strengthening access for girls to sport and promoting women's rights through the Tajikistan National Taekwondo Federation supported by U.N. Women, and 2) increasing disability sport and physical activity in Haiti through a partnership with BlazeSports, a non-governmental organization.  Other organizations working with the UNOSDP include International Paralympic Committee, International Judo Federation,  Gwangju Universiade 2015 Organizing Committee, International Volleyball Federation, Union of European Football Associations, SportAccord, Peace and Sport and Korean Air.

We look forward to recognition of sport and development projects by the UNOSDP during the Rio2016 Summer Games! 

Advances in prosthetic technology increase opportunities for sport

Today, athletes with physical disabilities compete in many sports, from track and field, to basketball, hockey, swimming and more. The International Paralympic Committee classifies para-athletes in categories for competition based on their impairment.  One eligible impairment type is limb deficiency due to total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of trauma (e.g. car accident), illness (e.g. bone cancer) or congenital limb deficiency (e.g. dysmelia). (Source: https://www.paralympic.org/classification)

Prosthetics and orthotics are special equipment used by some para-athletes to successfully contend. 
"The technology in the last five years is leaps and bounds ahead of where it was the previous 15 years," says John Spillar, market manager for sports prosthetics in North America for Ottobock. "We're making more and more custom devices for people who want to climb mountains, for people who want to play specific sports. You'll never be able to replace the limb, but we can get things like ground reaction force, the spring in the feet, things like that, and now we have athletes who are using these devices to beat world records." (Source: espn.go.com)

(Photo: helix.northwestern.edu)

Dr. Todd Kuiken pioneered targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Amputated nerves are redirected from the endpoint of injury to another muscle group. Electrodes receive the nerve impulse from the central nervous system and signal movement of the prosthetic limb. With training, an individual learns to think about and control movement of the advanced prosthetic. (Source: How Stuff Works Science - How Prosthetic Limbs Work)

Emerging technologies show promise in customizing prosthetics to the user, learning patterns of muscle movement and load. The result is an adaptive device that increases efficiency and precision of motion. The increasing number of injured veterans is driving advances in bioengineering, restoring mobility and independence. The future promises "smart" prosthetics with a computer interface enabling quick adjustments to demand without loss of function.

Follow the torch for 2016 Summer Games!

www.rio2016.com/en/torch-relay-route

Follow the ceremonial torch on its journey from Olympia to Rio to open the 2016 Summer Games. Search schedule for special regional events planned to excite many Brasilians about world-class athletic competitions in South America next month. For instance, there will be 5 stops today and the same number tomorrow, enabling many to catch the enthusiasm for Rio2016!

[Photo: Rio2016.com]

 

 

[Photo: Rio2016.com]

WHO Travel Advice Regarding Zika Virus and Olympic Games

The World Health Organization previously issued a statement concerning international spread of Zika virus.  The statement outlines steps to mitigate onward spread of the Zika virus. It does not support cancelling or rescheduling Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games planned for Rio de Janeiro. 

(Excerpts)..."Brazil is 1 of almost 60 countries and territories which to date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes...The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice.

WHO advises pregnant women not to travel to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. This includes Rio de Janeiro. Pregnant women’s sex partners returning from areas with circulating virus should be counselled to practise safer sex or abstain throughout the pregnancy. Anyone considering travel to the Olympics should:

• Follow the travel advice provided by their countries’ health authorities, and consult a health worker before travelling.
• Whenever possible, during the day, protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellents and by wearing clothing – preferably light-coloured – that covers as much of the body as possible.
• Practise safer sex (for example, use condoms correctly and consistently) or abstain from sex during their stay and for at least 8 weeks after their return, particularly if they have had or are experiencing symptoms of Zika virus.
• Choose air-conditioned accommodation (where windows and doors are usually kept closed to prevent the cool air from escaping, and mosquitoes cannot enter the rooms).
• Avoid visiting areas in cities and towns with no piped water or poor sanitation (ideal breeding grounds of mosquitoes), where the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes is higher.

WHO/PAHO is providing public health advice to the Government of Brazil and the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, on ways to further mitigate the risk of athletes and visitors contracting Zika virus during the Games. An important focus of WHO advice revolves around measures to reduce populations of Aedes mosquitoes which transmit chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever in addition to Zika virus..."

For additional travel assessments from other public health agencies see:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assessment, published 26 May 2016:
  Read the assessment
• European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control, published 10 May 2016:
  Read more (PDF)

2016 Paralympic Track and Field Team Announced - 66 athletes will represent Team USA in track & field at the 2016 Paralympic Games. The 40 men and 26 women on the roster, in addition to three guides for visually impaired athletes, will compete in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 7-18 (Source: TeamUSA.org).


(Photo: Joe Kusumoto, 2016)

2016 Paralympics Swim Team Announced - 31 athletes, 21 women and 10 men will represent the USA in Rio during 2016 Paralympic Games.  Seventeen on the roster have Paralympic Games experience. Two are U.S. military service members. Twenty-five of these outstanding athletes are currently ranked in the top 10 in the world across 89 events

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games is expected to be the largest to date, with more than 4,500 athletes from 176 countries expected to compete (Source: TeamUSA.org).

(Photo: Joe Kusumoto, 2016)

Rewards of Volunteering with U.S.A. Paralympics

Volunteers are important to the success of USA Paralympic Sport! There are many roles which volunteers assume during meets and trials, including Athlete and Coach Credentialing, Hospitality Support, Media Support, Anti-Doping Support, Athlete Support, Timekeeping, Logistics, Cheerleading and Merchandise Support. USA Paralympic staff depend on conscientious volunteers who set-up facilities beforehand and break down afterward, provide information and directions about venue and accommodations to participants and spectators. Volunteers insure all participants check in for on-time arrival to compete, and keep time during heats.

Volunteers may transport assistive devices/equipment, enforce rules for Safe Sport that protect athletes, review rights and procedures with athletes selected for drug screening. Finally, volunteers listen and reassure anxious parents and athletes and graciously serve breaks and meals to officials and coaches.

Volunteers cite desire to share their talents and spirit with others. Many believe that by helping, one receives more than is given. THANK-YOU, Paralympic Volunteers! Your quiet work "behind-the-scenes" enables athletes to compete, striving for their personal best.

 “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give” 
--- Altoona (PA) Mirror, 1944.


 

[Photo: charlotte.citysearch.com]

Safe Sport Campaign of Team USA

Statistics on child sexual assault are staggering. Adults may intimidate or coerce a child to engage in harmful acts. National media stories revealed instances when abuse was suspected, but not reported to law enforcement.

Emotional and physical effects on victims may be long-lasting, including fear, self-blame and distrust. Learn more about TEAM USA Safe Sport Campaign, action to prevent child assault and abuse.

Together, athletes, parents, coaches, trainers and meet officials act to protect privacy and insure safety of young athletes. This includes:

• conducting criminal background checks of coaches and volunteers 
• training all about related federal and state laws requiring reporting suspected sexual assault and legal penalties for offenders
• monitoring locker rooms and rules against adults being alone with children who are not members of their family
• limiting unauthorized photos of youth
• checking credentials during meets.