Olympics: Athletic Performance, Competition Stress, Economic Impact

AZUSA, CA (08/06/2008)(readMedia)-- The 2008 Olympic Games have arrived and the world is watching closely as athletes gather in Beijing, China for Friday's Opening Ceremonies. Below, several faculty scholars from Azusa Pacific University comment on athletes' years of preparation, dealing with stress during competition, the impact of the Games on China's economy, and the smog situation.

Olympians Prepare for Peak Performance

By Philip D. Ford, PhD, ATC, PES, Associate Professor, Exercise and Sport Science

Preparing and training for the Olympics is an arduous task which requires years of dedication. Track and field athletes, like Bryan Clay, and coaches adopt a principle of Periodization, a detailed plan to improve performance and produce effective training every year. This plan takes into account the physical and mental effects of high intensity training on the athlete, varying training to allow the athlete to "peak" at the correct time. What better event then the Olympics for an athlete to showcase his or her "peak" performance.

Periodization often follows four phases of training:

1. 1. The transition phase starts after the athlete's last significant competition, like the Olympics or World Games, and focuses mainly on body rejuvenation and restoration.
2. 2. The preparation phase focuses on base levels of conditioning, including strength and aerobic endurance to prepare the athlete for the future stress of high level training.
3. 3. The transition phase continues the base training while adding sport-specific tasks and increases the intensity to near competition levels.
4. 4. Finally, the competition phase focuses on maintaining peak performance while avoiding overtraining or burn-out.

Dealing with Olympic-Sized Stress

By Scott Bledsoe, Psy.D., Executive Director, APU Child and Family Development Center

The Olympians are assembling in Beijing, and though the medals they seek are elusive to all but the chosen few, the stress they experience is common to most athletes. In fact, anxiety on the playing field is a universal phenomenon. For many athletes, stress can arise from setting goals that are unrealistically high, resulting in increased tension and feelings of failure. If unchecked, high levels of stress can impact not only emotional but physical functioning as well. Competitors may experience minor aches and pains, fatigue, and gain or loss of appetite as a result of this process. Although many tend to "tough it out," successful athletes know that working authentically to reduce stress may be the ticket to more effective output both on and off the field.

A few important stress-reduction techniques can be helpful for athletes:

• Reduce the importance of the sporting event.
• Focus on the task at hand, not the spectators.
• Practice progressive muscle relaxation exercises to calm the body and enhance alertness, which can result in increased productivity.
• Try using guided imagery techniques to mentally prepare for the event at hand. For example, shot putters who trace each movement in their minds before taking a single step can work on improving output while gradually pushing themselves toward greater gains.

Olympics, Economic Impact, and Smog

By Stuart Strother, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Business and Management; author of Living Abroad in China (Strother is currently in China and will be attending several events at this year's Olympics.)

Olympics and Economic Impact

Major sporting events always generate economic impacts, especially from the new investment for projects such as stadiums and infrastructure. In Beijing, hotels and virtually every public space has undergone major improvements. Many parts feel like a new city. In addition to this outpouring of public money, private firms are investing heavily in the Chinese economy, especially the official Olympic sponsors who must pay $80 million (USD) for a sponsorship. All of this is good for the economy. However, due to nervousness about tourist activity, the government has tightened visa rules, which is keeping many foreign visitors (and their hard currency) out of the country.

The Smog Situation

The Chinese government has taken many steps to improve air quality in Beijing over the past few years, moving heavy industries further outside the city, implementing "green" intra-structure projects, and most importantly expanding the subway system. Today however, air quality remains poor in Beijing, due in part to a lack of rain, so the government is limiting the number of automobiles on the roads. This should improve the air for the Olympics, but is not the long-term solution the city needs.

To connect with these experts, contact Allison Oster at (626) 815-4518.

Azusa Pacific University has four alumni and two coaches participating in this year's Olympic Games, including decathlete Bryan Clay. For more information, visit www.apu.edu/olympians/.

For a complete listing of experts from Azusa Pacific, visit www.apu.edu/media/experts/.

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