@article{3098890,
    title = "Health promotion programs related to the Athens 2004 Olympic and Para
Olympic games",
    author = "Soteriades, ES and Hadjichristodoulou, C and Kremastinou, J and and Chelvatzoglou, FC and Minogiannis, PS and Falagas, ME",
    journal = "BMC Public Health",
    year = "2006",
    volume = "6",
    publisher = "BMC",
    issn = "1471-2458",
    doi = "10.1186/1471-2458-6-47",
    abstract = "Background: The Olympic Games constitute a first-class opportunity to
promote athleticism and health messages. Little is known, however on the
impact of Olympic Games on the development of health-promotion programs
for the general population. Our objective was to identify and describe
the population-based health-promotion programs implemented in relation
to the Athens 2004 Olympic and Para Olympic Games.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of all stakeholders of the Games,
including the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, all ministries of the
Greek government, the National School of Public Health, all
municipalities hosting Olympic events and all official private sponsors
of the Games, was conducted after the conclusion of the Games.
Results: A total of 44 agencies were surveyed, 40 responded (91%), and
ten (10) health-promotion programs were identified. Two programs were
implemented by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, 2 from the Greek
ministries, 2 from the National School of Public Health, 1 from
municipalities, and 3 from official private sponsors of the Games. The
total cost of the programs was estimated at 943,000 Euros; a relatively
small fraction (0.08%) of the overall cost of the Games.
Conclusion: Greece has made a small, however, significant step forward,
on health promotion, in the context of the Olympic Games. The
International Olympic Committee and the future hosting countries,
including China, are encouraged to elaborate on this idea and offer the
world a promising future for public health."
}