title: Planning the International Competition Schedules for the Health of Elite Athletes: A 21-Year Retrospective Study Evaluating the Effectiveness and Economic Impact in an Olympic Sport.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increased number of trips and competitions scheduled in the international agonistic calendars meets commercial demands while acting as a source of stress for the athletes. A model, developed in biathlons to monitor the so-called competition load, revealed an upward trend over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a 21-year period, the effects of the International Biathlon Union's rescheduling of the competitive calendars to control the competition load, as well as its stability over time and the economic impact of this intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each season competition, the load factors from the international agonistic calendar (number of venues/events, competition days/distance) were considered, and the athletes' daily and maximal stress scores were calculated. The calendar rescheduling, which started in 2001, involved the length of competitions, number of resting days and frequency of travels. Data from the period pre (1994-2000) and post (2001-2007) the intervention, as well as follow-up (2008-2015), were compared and analyzed in relation to the federation's budget.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The competition load and athletes' daily stress score progressively increased pre, plateaued post and remained stable in follow-up. Their annual variations within the final two periods were significantly lower than in the pre period, in spite of the higher average values. The maximal stress score decreased over time. The direct correlation between most of the competition load factors with the economic budget present in pre was lost in post and follow-up. Similarly, the athletes' daily stress score had a stable trend in post and follow-up, while budget continued to increase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The management of an athlete's potential source of stress by an international federation stabilized the competition load over time, but it did not affect the budget. Furthermore, it uncoupled the relationship between the athlete's effort and federation income.
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Malagoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, Section of Sport Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Carrabre
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Litmanen
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeannier
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhukovskaja
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dal Follo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, Section of Sport Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zambon
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, Section of Sport Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manfredini
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological