This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site.
___
Authors: MacIntosh Ross, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology, Western University and Eva Pila, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology, Western University
In a recent letter, Richard Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee, claimed that 鈥渢he IOC is athlete-centered,鈥� insisting the Olympics 鈥渃an 鈥� and do 鈥� make the world a better place.鈥澛�
He provided no evidence to support these assertions. Certainly, the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games seem to be anything but 鈥渁thlete-centered.鈥澛�
This year鈥檚 event has exposed how very little the IOC cares about the health and well-being of competitors, and its active role in the promotion of a psychologically damaging sociopolitical context for competition.聽
Unlike Pound鈥檚 claims, there are piles of evidence to suggest that the well-being of Olympians is of secondary importance to pomp and profit.
Shut up and make us money
Even before the Beijing Olympics were underway, athletes were struggling to have their voices heard. In fact, silencing athletes is a feature of the Olympic Charter, rigorously upheld by the IOC and enshrined in Rule 50 that prohibits any demonstrations, political or otherwise, at the Olympics.
Before the Olympics got underway, Yang Shu, a member of the Beijing Organizing Committee, announced that any behaviour or speech against the 鈥淥lympic spirit鈥� or Chinese laws and regulations would be 鈥渟ubject to certain punishment.鈥澛�
In response, athlete鈥檚 rights groups are speaking out. In a recent news release, Global Athlete argued that the IOC was suppressing free speech by limiting athlete鈥檚 abilities to speak out about human rights issues in China. In doing this, they argue that athletes are being used to legitimize the Chinese government, while at the same time silencing any dissenting voices.
Athlete mental health is contingent upon fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression. An ideologically motivated and COVID-restricted competitive environment can violate an athlete鈥檚 rights and potentiate psychological distress. An unsupportive competitive environment is a critical risk factor associated with elite athletes鈥� mental health vulnerabilities.聽
COVID-19 protocols and athlete well-being
COVID-19 has only exacerbated the usual pressure athletes face during the Olympics. Like the recent Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, athletes are socially isolated in Beijing, with no family, friends or fans to support them. But athletes at the Winter Olympics are also literally isolated in China鈥檚 Olympic 鈥渂ubble.鈥�
The so-called 鈥渂ubble鈥� is China鈥檚 way of keeping risk of infection as low as possible 鈥� a 鈥渃losed loop鈥� of hotels, conference centres and sporting venues with its own dedicated transport service that ferries athletes, coaches and media personnel back and forth. While a seemingly effective way to keep COVID-19 transmissions low, it is taking a toll on athletes鈥� mental health.
There is a lack of transparency in how athletes can access mental health services and supports, which is directly at odds with multi-societal consensus statements and the IOC鈥檚 own consensus statement that advocates for accessible and barrier-free mental health supports for athletes.
There has been no effort to mitigate this lack of support for athletes in Beijing.聽
And athletes in isolation have it worse. They鈥檝e complained of issues with food, internet connections and access to training equipment. Officials say they are doing their best, but athletes on social media have been sharing 聽experiences that say otherwise.
Belgian skeleton competitor Kim Meyleman was shocked and terrified when she was taken to a non-Olympic facility for isolation, with no explanation. The uncertainty 鈥� in an authoritarian state no less 鈥� clearly traumatized Meyleman, who fought back tears as she explained the situation on Instagram.
Other athletes are also complaining about their quarantine conditions. Russian biathlon competitor Valeria Vasnetsova tested positive for COVID-19 and, like Meyleman, was quarantined off site.聽
鈥淢y stomach hurts,鈥� she told followers on Instagram. 鈥淚鈥檓 very pale and I have huge black circles around my eyes. I want all this to end. I cry every day. I鈥檓 very tired,鈥� She was given the same meal three times a day, for five days straight. The only vegetable provided was a small amount of potatoes.
Long lasting impact
Rob Koehler, the director of Global Athlete, is very concerned about what he鈥檚 seeing in Beijing. He told The Associated Press:聽
聽鈥淲e鈥檙e worried about the entire COVID-19 protocol. We鈥檙e worried about the quarantine facilities and we鈥檙e worried about everything that鈥檚 not published, which is the details, and the devil is always in the details. They haven鈥檛 been well-informed and it hasn鈥檛 been transparent.鈥澛�
Athletes at the Beijing Olympics experienced a different Games. They were not only expected to perform under strict rules, but be at their best in a country where anything they say could have serious consequences.
The full extent of the impact this will have on athletes鈥� psychological well-being remains to be seen 鈥� and the Beijing Games have certainly thrown a shadow over the Olympics for years to come.
___
Eva Pila receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.聽
MacIntosh Ross does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
___
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/athlete-mental-health-was-sacrificed-during-beijing-2022-olympics-176782
MacIntosh Ross, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology, Western University and Eva Pila, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology, Western University, The Conversation
