Study: Possible impact of national responses to the COVID pandemic on medal tallies at the Paris 2024 Olympics . Image Credit: Hethers / Shutterstock.com *Important notice: medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
The 2024 Paris Olympics marked the second Summer Games since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Western Pacific nations, such as Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea, excelled in the Olympics, particularly in winning gold medals. This success may be partially attributed to their stringent pandemic measures and a 'COVID-cautious' approach.
These nations were previously recognized for their effective responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including strict measures like border closures, lockdowns, and mask mandates. These efforts have been associated not only with reduced excess mortality but also with a potential psychological and physical advantage in international competition. These efforts were found to effectively reduce excess deaths due to COVID-19 as compared to those reported in other regions.
In a recent study posted to the medRxiv * preprint server, researchers in Australia and New Zealand investigated the relationship between excess mortality, COVID-19 responses, and performance during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. About the study The researche.