the sydney 2000 olympic and paralympic games - Australian Sports ...

PART FOUR : NSW GOVERNMENT AGENCIES GAMES SUPPORT SERVICES
hospital was the preferred destination for members of the Olympic or Paralympic Family in the event of
emergency. Other metropolitan hospitals received Olympic-related patients, such as members of the
Olympic workforce and media.
The following hospitals had a designated support role for the Paralympic Games:
• Concord Repatriation Hospital was the main Paralympic Hospital providing services to the athletes
and officials residing in the Paralympic Village at Sydney Olympic Park.
• Westmead Hospital provided spectator services for events at Sydney Olympic Park.
• Prince of Wales Hospital supported Sydney Harbour events.
• Arrangements were made for specialist Spinal Cord Injury care to be provided at Prince of Wales and
Royal North Shore Hospitals. However, this service did not need to be utilised during the Games.
Games-time results
769 presentations and 184 admissions were reported during the Olympics and a further 107 presentations
and 44 admissions during the Paralympic period.
Doping Program
SOCOG and SPOC delivered a professional and efficient Doping Control Program in accordance with the
IOC Medical Code and the International Paralympic Committee Medical Controls Guide. The Doping
Control Program included procurement of sample collection equipment and provision of advice relating to
the testing requirements for competition venues.
The Australian Sports Drug Agency trained approximately 450 SOCOG doping volunteers in collection
methods. It also provided Commonwealth funded drug tests as part of SOCOG's test event program in the
lead up to the Games.
The Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, which is accredited by the IOC, analysed urine samples for
the Games and collaborated with the Australian Institute of Sport to develop a world first blood test for
erythropoietin (EPO).
Food Safety Program
The food safety program commenced in 1999 with “Operation Foodwatch”, a systematic audit of high
volume, tourism related food outlets. A total of 5,131 outlets in the greater metropolitan area, including the
Central Coast, Hunter and Wollongong areas were recorded on a database. With the co-operation of local
government officers and Public Health Unit Staff, these outlets were rated in terms of their food safety
standards. Those judged unsatisfactory were highlighted for further attention, with the objective being to
reduce the number of food outlets requiring close monitoring during the Games.
The food safety program at venues was assisted by SOCOG engaging a core group of nine master
caterers. These caterers were communicated to the Department of Health well before the Games,
allowing close liaison to be established. Caterers were given food safety information sheets and guidance
in drawing up Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point food safety plans. In addition, ongoing liaison with
OCA enabled the Department of Health to have input into the construction and fitout of food premises,
including temporary structures.
Games-time Results
No outbreaks of food borne illness were detected during the Games. The following statistics provide an
overview of Food Safety Program results:
• 83 food safety officers conducted daily inspections of all food outlets at venues.
• 9,000 food safety inspections of 1,066 food outlets were carried out at Olympic venues
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