The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai has been a safe event so far, organizers said yesterday.

 

No food poisoning incidents have been reported by any of the delegations from the 164 nations and regions participating in the event.

 

To ensure food safety, organizers have dispatched supervisors to each of the reception venues and have asked liaison officers and volunteers to take their delegations to dine at licensed food stands and restaurants during their sightseeing outings.

 

The organizers did say yesterday that there had been some cases of digestive disturbances because some of the mentally disadvantaged athletes were not accustomed to eating Chinese cuisine.

 

To guarantee immediate and effective treatments for the ill, the event's organizers have set up a three-tier healthcare network involving infirmaries at all sports venues and hotels, designated health facilities in 18 districts and one county and three city-level hospitals.

 

By Sunday afternoon, 1,690 individuals, including 1,140 athletes, had received medical services.

 

"Digestive problems and athletic injuries were the most common complaints," said Cai Wei, the event steering committee's health department chief. "Some athletes felt sick after meals because they were not used to the food."

 

Nine people, including an athlete from Bangladesh, were in hospital because of appendicitis or other illnesses, but all remained in stable condition.

 

The organizers also created the Healthy Athletes program to help athletes improve their abilities to train and compete in the Special Olympics.

 

Since last Tuesday, the program has helped more than 4,000 athletes get physical check-ups for their eyes, ears, teeth, feet, nutrition and flexibility. Some 250 medical workers, 380 volunteers and 100 overseas professionals were involved in the program, which ends tomorrow.

 

At the Special Smiles section athletes could have their teeth screened, pick up a mouth guard, receive education on oral hygiene and leave with souvenirs such as toothpaste and toothbrushes.

 

"In addition to increasing awareness of proper physical training among the athletes, the program will help collect data for health departments to take proper steps to improve the health of mentally disabled people," said He Naiyao, chief doctor of the Beijing-based China Rehabilitation Research Center.

 

(China Daily October 9, 2007)