Let's start with the basics

Many people ask all sorts of very good questions. What are the Para Panamerican Games? What do you there? How do you get to go to these events? and the most common one is not a question....."Have a good holiday!". I wish. Although most will say that when working hard at something you really enjoy, it may feel like a holiday. Time off it isn't but a great experience it certainly is.

As a member ot the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine, and a holder of the Diploma of Sport Medicine, I can apply to be part of the health care group that accompanies the Canadian athletes to major Games as these. I was honoured to be selected as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and have selected members to be part of the team. These Games are smaller than the Paralympics and not all sports will have a Canadian team or athlete participating. We will therefore have a smaller medical group (Health Care Team or HCT). Most are coming along with their National Sport Organization (NSO). Athletics, goalball men and women, cycling, basketball men and women will all send dedicated therapist with their team. I have selected one therapist as our "core" therapist who will help with organizational issues of our clinic and provide therapeutic services to teams and athletes who will not have their own therapist on site: swimming, tennis, boccia and archery. So we will have 2 doctors and 9 therapists as part of our HCT. We will have a Canadian clinic in our accomodations in the Para Panamerican Village where treatments will take place and all therapists will be with their teams and athletes during practices, training and competitions. Dr Bruce and I will be providing medical services and covering high risk sports on site as well. Long hours but great camaraderie.

As time goes on, more information about what is happeneing will allow you to develop a sense of what it is like for us for those few weeks.

Just over a week to go

Well, here we are again. Committing myself to write daily on this blog to allow the readers a different view of the Para Panamerican Games that will take place in Guadalajara from November 12 to 20.

I will try and add personal pictures to make this a little more fun. Hopefully I will be able to be mobile everyday to experience our athletes' training and competitions and bring them to your attention for you to enjoy.

This last week is full of telephone conferences and last minute preparations. I will depart on November 5th and most of the Canadian teams and athletes are showing up on the 7th.

Join me over the next few weeks as the Games take place.

And for the usual sign off: Chat later.

Richard