It is generally expected that the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring health and social benefits to their host city and to Brazil. This assumption comes from “common sense”, as a logical conc...It is generally expected that the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring health and social benefits to their host city and to Brazil. This assumption comes from “common sense”, as a logical conclusion arising from the fact that host cities “inspire” and stimulate lifestyle changes. Benefits are also expected on tourism, self-image, architecture and the economy of the country as a whole. But are these expectations real and evidence-based? What parts of these “facts” are concrete and which ones are not? This paper suggests available ways of quantifying positive effects of hosting an Olympic Game, and puts the focus of this approach on the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games and their true legacy, seeking scientific certainties.展开更多
The current knowledge of the Zika Virus epidemic clearly lacks a comprehensive understanding of its determinants and clinical outcomes. Until recently regarded as a “simple” dengue-like infection, it nowadays turned...The current knowledge of the Zika Virus epidemic clearly lacks a comprehensive understanding of its determinants and clinical outcomes. Until recently regarded as a “simple” dengue-like infection, it nowadays turned into a real challenge to Public Health around the world. The Zika Epidemic shows a quick spread, affects unprepared health systems, and presents with severe neurological complications of newborns—a concrete threat to pregnancies. This re-emerging infectious disease is a source of deep doubts and harsh debates regarding Public Health and even bioethical issues. Several doubts still remain on how to deal with the various possible transmission ways of the disease, the surge of a generation of thousands of microcephalic newborns (and questions on how to handle them within limited health systems), and severe malformations concentrated so far in Northeastern Brazil. Finally, a debate is raised about how the “Endemic State” of Brazil, deeply merged in a health care crisis for almost 40 years now, currently confronts 3 current epidemics of the arboviruses Dengue, Chikungunya and now Zika, all associated with a lack of basic sanitation. Brazil must deal with these biological threats in the context of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, since Chikungunya has probably been brought to Brazil during the FIFA Soccer World Cup (2014) and Zika Virus spread is associated with the Soccer Confederations Cup (2013).展开更多
Mega sport events have been in the focus of scientific work since years. Most of the authors deal with effects, impacts or thelegacy of them, concentrating on economic aspects in that field. This study uses a stakehol...Mega sport events have been in the focus of scientific work since years. Most of the authors deal with effects, impacts or thelegacy of them, concentrating on economic aspects in that field. This study uses a stakeholder approach and tries to examine peculiarlythe whole range of the Olympic Games of Rio 2016 by using a qualitative research method. Stakeholders from Latin America wereasked about their expectations and perceived experiences regarding the first games in South America. Even if from differentperspectives, respondents expected and perceived both positive and negative effects through RIO 2016. Their wishes were related totheir individual development, further development of sports, intercultural exchange, and social learning. A similarly varied picture maybe observed regarding the experiences perceived. In order to determine a comprehensive picture of RIO 2016 and its legacy, it isimportant to do a short-term as well as a long-term investigation.展开更多
文摘It is generally expected that the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring health and social benefits to their host city and to Brazil. This assumption comes from “common sense”, as a logical conclusion arising from the fact that host cities “inspire” and stimulate lifestyle changes. Benefits are also expected on tourism, self-image, architecture and the economy of the country as a whole. But are these expectations real and evidence-based? What parts of these “facts” are concrete and which ones are not? This paper suggests available ways of quantifying positive effects of hosting an Olympic Game, and puts the focus of this approach on the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games and their true legacy, seeking scientific certainties.
文摘The current knowledge of the Zika Virus epidemic clearly lacks a comprehensive understanding of its determinants and clinical outcomes. Until recently regarded as a “simple” dengue-like infection, it nowadays turned into a real challenge to Public Health around the world. The Zika Epidemic shows a quick spread, affects unprepared health systems, and presents with severe neurological complications of newborns—a concrete threat to pregnancies. This re-emerging infectious disease is a source of deep doubts and harsh debates regarding Public Health and even bioethical issues. Several doubts still remain on how to deal with the various possible transmission ways of the disease, the surge of a generation of thousands of microcephalic newborns (and questions on how to handle them within limited health systems), and severe malformations concentrated so far in Northeastern Brazil. Finally, a debate is raised about how the “Endemic State” of Brazil, deeply merged in a health care crisis for almost 40 years now, currently confronts 3 current epidemics of the arboviruses Dengue, Chikungunya and now Zika, all associated with a lack of basic sanitation. Brazil must deal with these biological threats in the context of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, since Chikungunya has probably been brought to Brazil during the FIFA Soccer World Cup (2014) and Zika Virus spread is associated with the Soccer Confederations Cup (2013).
文摘Mega sport events have been in the focus of scientific work since years. Most of the authors deal with effects, impacts or thelegacy of them, concentrating on economic aspects in that field. This study uses a stakeholder approach and tries to examine peculiarlythe whole range of the Olympic Games of Rio 2016 by using a qualitative research method. Stakeholders from Latin America wereasked about their expectations and perceived experiences regarding the first games in South America. Even if from differentperspectives, respondents expected and perceived both positive and negative effects through RIO 2016. Their wishes were related totheir individual development, further development of sports, intercultural exchange, and social learning. A similarly varied picture maybe observed regarding the experiences perceived. In order to determine a comprehensive picture of RIO 2016 and its legacy, it isimportant to do a short-term as well as a long-term investigation.
