China

Asiad athletes' needs to be met

By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-30 07:47

Medical carelined up for Asian Games

GUANGZHOU - Foreign participants at the 16th Asian Games, including athletes, sports officials and volunteers, will have access to immediate and effective emergency medical treatment if the need arises.

The assurance of timely treatment was promised when emergency medical services for the upcoming Asian Games were jointly launched by International SOS and the People's Insurance Company (Group) of China (PICC) on Wednesday in Guangzhou.

As of Sept 15, some 11,634 athletes and 4,600 sports officials from 45 Asian countries and regions had confirmed their participation in the Asian Games, sources with the organizing committee said.

International SOS, which has three alarm centers in China, was also designated to provide emergency medical services for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"We successfully conducted five medical evacuations during the Beijing Olympic Games. The experience at such a large international event will help form a solid foundation for us to provide services during the Asian Games," said Eliza Kwok, managing director of International SOS China.

Emergency medical services for the Asian Games have been well prepared, with all alarm centers in Asia on stand by and the formation of a strong medical team, Kwok said.

PICC, which is one of the partners of the Asian Games, has provided 150 billion yuan ($22.43 billion) in insurance coverage for the event, which is due to take place in Guangzhou from Nov 12 to 27.

"Along with the insurance, the assistance of International SOS in providing emergency medical services will help safeguard the Asian Games," said Ye Jianming, vice-general manager of PICC Guangdong branch.

Guangzhou has also set up a special task force consisting of 2,350 volunteers, 1,963 medical workers and 387 public health workers, according to local health authorities.

Several emergency drills have recently been conducted, covering cases of food poisoning, infectious diseases and terrorist attacks.

Some 38 local hospitals have been designated to provide services during the Asian Games, according to Zhang Li, director of the medical services department of the Asian Games' organizing committee.

An outpatient department is currently in the process of being built in the athletes' village of the Asian Games Town.

Zhang said further efforts have been made to monitor every link in the food production and supply chain, including planting and breeding, processing and catering, as well as to provide safe drinking water across Guangzhou and co-host cities.

China Daily