I experienced my first Olympics in Torino. The 20th Olympic Winter Games was held in February in the Italy’s alpine region. The World Olympians Association (WOA) invited me to participate as a chiropractor. I was fortunate to be there.
In this summer heat, it may prove refreshing to reminisce those many cool memories of two weeks spent in freezing winter temperatures on icy terrain that we in the Philippines are so far removed from.
To echo the Olympic ideals of multiculturalism and respect for all nations as put forward by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the ISCC put together an international team of chiropractors from all over the World. Among the qualifying chiropractors in the international delegation were: from Australia, Dr. Mark Uwland and Dr. Chris Prossner, DC, CCSP (Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician) and medical director of the ASP World Tour (Association of Surfing Professionals); from the US, Dr. Sage Campiones; from Japan, Dr. Naoki Sakabira, from the UK, Dr. Thomas Jeppesen, DC, ICSD (chiropractor for the World Games in Duisburg, Germany); and myself, a DC and CEO and director of Intercare Healthcare Systems Inc. – the integrated healthcare group responsible for servicing the Philippine Aquatic Delegation of the 23rd South east Asian Games in the Philippines last year.
The delegation was present at the Visa Olympians Reunion Center to provide chiropractic care to Olympians, past and present, and to dignitaries of various organizations like the WOA and IOC who requested treatments. The Reunion Center was set up within the compounds of the historic Armida Rowing Club in Torino where we conducted our treatments. Not surprisingly, the most common problems were lower back pain, neck and shoulder pain, and knee problems.
The chiropractic team had the opportunity to meet in particular athletes from the Greek and American bobsleigh team, the Chinese figure skating team, the US snowboarding team, the Latvian hockey team and the Australian curling team.
We worked on Olympians of past games such as Gabriella Bacelli of the Italian rowing team, Tom Logan of the US volleyball team, John Andrew Kambanis of the Greek bobsleigh team and Gary Morgan of the US track and field team.
We served as ambassadors of the chiropractic profession to the Olympic Games, networking with several executive board members of the WOA
The experience included the overwhelming opportunity to be among some of these former Olympians who now serve as diplomatic luminaries. Their credentials are truly impressive and exchanging conversations with them has broadened my knowledge a mile long.
Executive member Dr. Liston D. Bochette (PUR), formerly in athletics and bobsleigh, had a career as an Olympian included the Summer and Winter Games in decathlon (1984) and bobsleigh (1992, 1994 and 1998.) In his civil career in sports administration, he is a university professor and trustee with a PhD in Education, and president of various national federations. He is also an artist, having won the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Cultural Festival. His artwork has been exhibited around the world.
Another executive member, El Hadj Amadou Dia of Senegal, who was in athletics, was a silver medalist in the 400-meters hurdles (1988), and he participated in (1984, 1992). In his civil career as sports administrator, he has served as the President of the Senegalese Olympians Association, director of the WOA, African Regional Office in Dakar, director of the IAAF Dakar Regional Development Centre and elected Sportsman of the Century in Senegal.
Charmaine Crooks of Canada, who practiced athletics, was a silver medalist in the 4x400-meters Relay (1984). She also participated in the Olympics in 1988, 1992 and 1996 and was a Canadian Olympic team member 1980. In her civil career and sports administration, she was an IOC member (1999 — 2004), founding member of IOC Ethics Commission and member of the IOC press commission, president of NGU Consultants Sports and Media Consulting, president of the Canadian Olympians Association. She is a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Executive Board and the 2010 VANOC — the Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Not only were we there to forge international ties with men and women of the highest caliber. The chiropractic delegation, in cooperation with the colleges in the United States, was there to offer full academic doctorate in chiropractic scholarships to the members of the World Olympians Association. Three Olympians at once expressed significant interest in pursuing an education to become a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC).
It was only later that I found out that the Olympic torch bearer chosen to bring the flame into the Torino Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony was no other than Alberto Tomba.
By tradition, the opening ceremony marks the separation between ordinary times and the extraordinary, that being the exciting Olympic period. The ceremonies represent the highest Olympic values, but they are also an emotional moment of celebration. As I approached the Olympic Stadium three hours prior to the start of the ceremony, the queues stretched out far but security was expectedly tight. As my companion said, "This is probably the safest place on earth right now." Inside the stadium, the energy was electric. It was charged enough to keep us toasty despite having to sit for almost four hours in -10 degrees Celsius to witness 86 countries parade their finest winter athletes.
I watched in awe and wonder at the performances of such artists as Luciano Pavarotti, Peter Gabriel, Yoko Ono and Cirque de Soleil, with the participation of a Ferrari Formula 1 race car for an amazing and spectacular show. After what seemed like a never-ending transition from program to program, the torch finally arrived from its two-month long journey throughout Italy. The Olympic torch left Rome on Dec. 8, 2005 and arrived in Torino on Feb. 9. A total 10,001 torchbearers ran 11,000 kilometers total. I was amazed at the importance of the tradition. The mythical flame stolen by Prometheus from the Gods has been associated with the Olympics since the days of ancient Greece.
As Alberto Tomba circled the athletes seated at the center of the Olympic stadium, the crowd roared louder and louder. Then he handed it to one final torchbearer. She ran through the rows of athletes and lit the flame pit. In an instant, fireworks ignited around the stadium until finally, the main Olympic torch, a towering structure at the entrance of the stadium was ablaze and would burn for the duration of the Olympic games.
The great thing about being in Torino during the Winter Olympics was that one couldn’t possibly ignore the beauty of the Alps that beckoned to be enjoyed. So, on our third day, my colleague Dr. Chris Possner and I decided that the best way to learn about the winter athletes’ injuries was to experience their sports. We took the first train to St. Oulx, then a five minute bus ride to Jovenceau to catch the ski lifts up to the mountains 4,000 feet above sea level. The first thing that struck us from up there was the spectacular view of the French and Italian Alps.
The exhilaration of rushing downhill on skis, this being my initial experience with the powdery mountains, made my trip extraordinary. I took to the snow like fish to water and was pleasantly surprised to be going down some advance runs by the end of the day. I actually continued to take the 7a.m. train out of Torino to be on the slopes for four hours beginning 9 a.m. before catching the 2 p.m. train back for a quick shower and change in time for 4 p.m. clinic at the Olympians Reunion Center.
Having participated in the Winter Games as a chiropractor for the World Olympians Association was a great privilege. Learning and working together with some of the best minds in sports chiropractic was an honor. Sharing techniques on patient care and management made all in the delegation better doctors. Basking in the Games’ atmosphere was an once-in-a-lifetime experience.