‘The worst time of year in Rome for the Olympics’: lessons and legacies in healthcare from the 1960 Olympic Games

Abstract

ABSTRACT The provision of medical support for athletes during the Olympic Games has been a feature of each Olympic event. Prior to 1960, medical services were largely utilitarian in nature, frequently relying on military medical services and focused on providing only the essential medical support to athletes, support staff and spectators during the games. However, the appointment of Professor Luigi Gedda to lead the Medical and Scientific Committee for Rome led to an expansion of healthcare services beyond routine clinical delivery, to focus on an extensive and controversial research and education programme during the games. Subsequently, the games were confronted by a range of novel clinical scenarios, including the presence of intense heat during competitions, the transmission of infectious disease among athletes, the rapidly expanding use of drugs by athletes and the death of an athlete following competition. This paper utilises archival documents and contemporary sources to critically review the nature, effectiveness and impact of the healthcare provided at the 1960 Olympic Games.