Britain: Handshakes are OK
Source: Agencies |
March 8, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ON the other hand ...
The government has rejected advice from the British Olympic team's top doctor that athletes should not shake hands at the London Games to avoid germs that could make them sick.
Government health advisers seemed perplexed by the guidelines, which Olympic hopefuls derided as "rude" and "pointless."
By late Tuesday, the British Olympic Association had softened its stance. Yes, the athletes will be able to greet others among the 10,000 visiting Olympians and hundreds of dignitaries with handshakes. They'll just have to make sure they wash thoroughly later.
"Team GB's 550 athletes will of course warmly welcome their fellow competitors from around the world - there is no question about that," BOA communications director Darryl Seibel said. "We are not advising our athletes to avoid shaking hands. We are simply reminding them to follow commonsense measures by maintaining good hand hygiene to minimize the risk of becoming ill."
During a briefing with a small group of reporters, BOA chief medical officer Dr. Ian McCurdie pointed out that the Olympic Village environment could be a "pretty hostile one" for infections and said a handshake ban was "not such a bad thing."
His comments went viral in Britain, drawing derision on TV, radio and in social media.
The government has rejected advice from the British Olympic team's top doctor that athletes should not shake hands at the London Games to avoid germs that could make them sick.
Government health advisers seemed perplexed by the guidelines, which Olympic hopefuls derided as "rude" and "pointless."
By late Tuesday, the British Olympic Association had softened its stance. Yes, the athletes will be able to greet others among the 10,000 visiting Olympians and hundreds of dignitaries with handshakes. They'll just have to make sure they wash thoroughly later.
"Team GB's 550 athletes will of course warmly welcome their fellow competitors from around the world - there is no question about that," BOA communications director Darryl Seibel said. "We are not advising our athletes to avoid shaking hands. We are simply reminding them to follow commonsense measures by maintaining good hand hygiene to minimize the risk of becoming ill."
During a briefing with a small group of reporters, BOA chief medical officer Dr. Ian McCurdie pointed out that the Olympic Village environment could be a "pretty hostile one" for infections and said a handshake ban was "not such a bad thing."
His comments went viral in Britain, drawing derision on TV, radio and in social media.
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