Health promotion programs related to the Athens 2004 Olympic and Para Olympic games.
BACKGROUND
The Olympic Games constitute a first-class opportunity to promote athleticism and health messages. Little is known, however on the impact of Olympic Games on the development of health-promotion programs for the general population. Our objective was to identify and describe the population-based health-promotion programs implemented in relation to the Athens 2004 Olympic and Para Olympic Games.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of all stakeholders of the Games, including the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, all ministries of the Greek government, the National School of Public Health, all municipalities hosting Olympic events and all official private sponsors of the Games, was conducted after the conclusion of the Games.


RESULTS
A total of 44 agencies were surveyed, 40 responded (91%), and ten (10) health-promotion programs were identified. Two programs were implemented by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, 2 from the Greek ministries, 2 from the National School of Public Health, 1 from municipalities, and 3 from official private sponsors of the Games. The total cost of the programs was estimated at 943,000 Euros; a relatively small fraction (0.08%) of the overall cost of the Games.


CONCLUSIONS
Greece has made a small, however, significant step forward, on health promotion, in the context of the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee and the future hosting countries, including China, are encouraged to elaborate on this idea and offer the world a promising future for public health.
Soteriades
Elpidoforos S
ES
Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Athens, Greece. esoteria@cyprusinstitute.org
Hadjichristodoulou
Christos
C
Kremastinou
Jeni
J
Chelvatzoglou
Fotini C
FC
Minogiannis
Panagiotis S
PS
Falagas
Matthew E
ME
D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006115:Greece; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D017149:Private Sector; D011634:Public Health; D011635:Public Health Administration; D017150:Public Sector; D040241:Social Marketing; D013177:Sports