The World Health Organization teams up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and France Govt. to create a healthy Paris Olympics environment for athletes & spectators.
Updated on 28 Jul 2024, 12:39 AM IST
WHO Director-General & former UN Secretary-General on the last day of the Olympic torch relay | Credit: WHO
Summary
Is the River Saine clean?
Swimming in the river Saine has been banned for over 100 years due to high levels of pollution & high risk of disease, but in this 3rd time Paris Summer Games, the world’s top athletes are expected to compete in it.
At least €1.4 billion has been spent to clean the Seine and make it acceptable for athletes to swim in during the Olympics.
When there is rainfall, water drained the household waste and other pollutant into the River Saine, polluting the river.
In June, testing results from Fluidion showed that the Seine was not safe for swimming due to high levels of E. coli evident in the water.
In between early April and late May E. coli levels were 3400MPN/100 ml, where the World Triathlon’s standard is 900MPN/100ml.
E. coli can causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever, urinary tract infections (UTI) etc.
What Events will be hosted there?
Despite the ban on swimming in the Seine and health concerns, there are two events scheduled to take place in the river: triathlon and marathon swimming.
If E. coli levels do not drop to meet World Triathlon’s standard, then the swimming leg of the triathlon may be cancelled.
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Is the Dengue Virus threatens for this Olympics?
Dengue is a more recent problem. With outbreaks of the virus raging in tropical parts of the world there have been an estimated 10 million cases worldwide this year.
In between January 1 and April 30, 2024, French health authorities recorded 2,166 dengue cases, compared to an average of just 128 cases for another same period in France.
Most of the cases, Dengue virus infection is asymptomatic or mild feverish symptoms, but in some cases, it may be fatal.
Apart from the Dengue, Measles & Pertussis infection is other major concern for this summer games, the cases of those diseases have been increased in France since the beginning of the year.
there has no reason to be worried about, says Anh Wartel, deputy director general and head of the European regional office for the International Vaccine Institute: “Surveillance systems of infectious diseases have been greatly reinforced in France after the Covid-19 pandemic.”
She adds, “It is not the first time that the country organizes a big sporting event. Many people from all over the world came to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and everything went well.”
Collaboration of WHO with IOC and France to conduct a healthy Paris Olympics
“Just as athletes and fans around the world have been preparing for the Paris Olympics, WHO has been working with the IOC and the Government of France to make sure these Games are healthy and safe for everyone involved,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
He adds, “From promoting physical activity to protecting people from a range of health threats, WHO has been proud to play its part in making the Paris Olympics a success.”
Physical activity promotion campaign: “Let’s Move”
WHO and the IOC together promoted this campaigning in the year 2020 and renewed this year, that aims to leveraging the power of sport, and the platform of the Paris Olympics, to motivate sports stars and the global public to move for better health.
A programme of 30 minutes of daily physical activity for school students
The French government has introduced a daily physical activity for school students of 30 minutes with the above campaigning to ensure a lasting and healthy legacy is left from the Paris Olympics.
Joint public health advice
The joint public health advice programme has been developed in collaboration with the European Centre of Disease prevention & Control (ECDC) and France for travelers attending the Paris Olympics & also in the Paralympics.
During the Summit, WHO will make commitments to mobilize for nutrition, to improve diets, promote physical activity and provide services to diagnose and manage obesity, with the aim of reducing obesity prevalence in targeted countries by 5% by 2030.
