What's on the web: The Olympics

In 1896, Athens hosted the first modern version of the Olympic Games. This year, history repeats itself and the games are in Athens again. Much has changed: scientific advances in sports medicine have enabled athletes to improve their physical strength and perfect their technique.

CREDIT

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (www.amssm.org provides insight into the life of a sports doctor. The site also showcases opportunities for work, including fellowships in the United States and Canada. The monthly case reports and the well organised links are well worth a look. The site focuses heavily on North America but is nevertheless a good starting point for graduate students hoping to get to grips with this career.

For a more global perspective visit the International Federation of Sports Medicine (www.fims.org). A calendar lists the events taking place worldwide, and you can even submit the ones taking place in your country. One highlight is the section called "position statements," which provides guidelines for clarifying controversial or difficult topics, such as heart attacks in athletes, eye injuries in sports, and excessive physical training in children and adolescents. These topics are not well covered in medical curriculums.

Try www.sportsmedicine.com if you want a guide to sports medicine. Although the site looks simple it provides plenty of information about issues such as sports injuries, anatomy and physiology, health and wellbeing, and tips on fitness and exercise.

Medical students should be aware of the latest evidence concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and research of musculoskeletal disorders, which are the most common cause of severe long term pain and physical disability. As such, the American Journal of Sports Medicine (http://journal.ajsm.org) is an important hub of scientific references. You can access archives with full text articles starting in 1998, and there is a shortcut in case you just feel like sieving through the most read or cited articles.

Finally, if you fancy yourself as a participant in this year's Olympics, why not visit the official website of the 2004 Athens's games (www.athens2004.com)? Perhaps you need help with the events schedule, or maybe with accommodation or ticketing? Don't worry-it's all there.

Klaus Morales, fourth year medical student, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte,Brazil
Email: klausbmj@yahoo.com

Tulio Campos, fourth year medical student, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Email: tuliovoc@terra.com.br


studentBMJ 2004;12:265-308 July ISSN 0966-6494