Peng said his team had provided medical services for more than 420 spectators, stadium staff and athletes during the Olympic track and field test event at the Bird's Nest in May.

"We were on standby wherever the events might be held around the city and through the field work we had tested our preparations."

Peng predicted the athletes would comprise a small number of their patients not only because they were in good physical condition, but because many of the Olympic delegations would have their own doctors and paramedics.

His team, however, had a sports massage room near the stadium's warm-up facilities and 16 massage therapists would be ready to provide free-of-charge sports massage therapy for athletes.

The massage room had received more than 30 athletes on average during the track and field test event, and Peng forecast more athletes would come during the Beijing Games.

In addition, his team was prepared to deal with the worst scenarios, for instance terrorism attacks, after receiving special training and conducting drills.

During the latest drill on July 22, the team managed to cope with a large-scale stampede at the stadium.

"We prepare for the worst. We will provide the best service," Peng said.

BEYOND THE BIRD'S NEST

Like the Bird's Nest, all other Olympic venues and training facilities in Beijing and the six co-host cities would be looked after by a medical team.

Dai Jianping, BOCOG deputy head of sports service department, said there were 226 medical service stations at the Olympic venues. More than 5,000 medics, both Chinese and foreign, would be providing first-rate medical services during the Olympics and Paralympics.

In Beijing, 23 hospitals and a first-aid center were designated by BOCOG to provide medical services. The China-Japan Friendship Hospital was for athletes, coaches and sports experts, while the Beijing Union Medical College Hospital was for Olympic officials and VIP guests. The Anzhen Hospital would receive media people.

Peng said the international medical department of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital had been expanded into a three-story building with more than 90 wards of Chinese, Western and Japanese styles.

"In some wards, there are extended beds for taller athletes and beds with leg hoists over them for those with fractures. We have equipped the international zone with special medical equipment, bilingual signs, barrier-free facilities and first aid passageways."

As of Wednesday, 3,223 medical workers were in place and ready for service in Beijing, according to Jin Dapeng, BOCOG's medical support group head and Beijing Health Bureau Party chief.

Hospitals in Beijing had improved their services with standard bilingual signs, classified drugs, detailed emergency response plans and barrier-free facilities, he said.

Jin added a special software would be introduced to prevent doctors from giving prescriptions that may include stimulants. All medicine at Beijing hospitals had been checked and those with stimulants had been tagged with warnings saying "not for athletes."

He also vowed to monitor the daily health conditions of people working at Games' venues, non-competition facilities and Olympic-designated hotels.

Apart from the 24 designated hospitals, the general clinic in the Olympic Village would also provide medical services for injured athletes who didn't need hospitalization.

The three-story clinic, with 626 experienced medical workers, could receive 700 to 800 patients daily and provide a wide spectrum of services for athletes in several languages, including English, French, Spanish and German.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2008)