Summary
19 March 2012
British athletes have been advised to avoid shaking hands at this year's Olympics. The team's chief medical officer has warned it could lead to illness spreading through the camp and harm the country's bid for medals.
Reporter
Alex Capstick
An athlete
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Report
Attention to detail has been a mantra of the British Olympic Association in its preparations for the London Games. Its determination to leave no stone unturned has now included advice on the friendly handshake.
The team's head doctor Ian McCurdie said within reason it should be off-limits. He said hand hygiene presented one of the biggest risks of infection to the athletes.
It's feared the spread of disease could scupper their chances of equalling their performance at the Beijing Olympics when they finished fourth in the medals table.
If handshaking is unavoidable the team members have been asked to wash as soon as possible as it could be the difference between success and failure.
Most of them will be living and mingling with thousands of other athletes in the Olympic village. The British authority on etiquette, Debrett's, said being asked not to shake hands with rivals and officials seemed a bit extreme, as it could look rude.
And a spokesman for the US Olympic team said they would be encouraging their athletes to meet, greet and interact with as many athletes from other countries as possible.
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Vocabulary
- mantra
phrase or idea that is often repeated
- off-limits
not permitted
- hygiene
cleanliness
- infection
having a disease
- scupper
ruin
- unavoidable
not preventable
- mingling
mixing with others
- etiquette
rules of behaviour
- extreme
severe
- interact
communicate
