Information on how to join an Olympics host medical team
If you’re a physical therapist looking to join the who’s who in sports physical therapy, a position on the host medical team in the 2016 Olympics may be as golden an opportunity as they come. This year, 2012, the world watched and still watching athletes compete in London, and while that means the next summer Olympics is four years away, it also means the clock is ticking for therapists and doctors interested in joining the medical host team in Rio de Janeiro next go around. All the openings and job profiles are disclosed by the Organizing Committee in the Opportunities section of Rio2016.com. To register, send a CV to the electronic address indicated for each opening on Rio2016 Organizing Committee
If your profile does not match the requirements of any of the openings, you should wait for the announcement of other opportunities. Candidates will go through a process of selection conducted by Rio 2016. In the meantime, interested therapists should follow the Rio 2016 blog, updates on their Facebook page, and glean information from professionals in their fields who have done this kind of thing before, like New Jersey PT, Edison Au featured in this YouTube video.
An American PT talks about his experience about being selected as part of the core medical host team for the last winter games, watch video below.
As confirmed during Edison Au’s news interview, it takes two years to complete the application process, as well as time networking in systems that work with high performance athletes. Working in an Olympics host medical team also entails:
- Proving that medical services can be nicely coordinated in every country, for a variety of patients with different cultural backgrounds.
- Working amongst more than a dozen other therapists and doctors, and assisting visiting medical teams with routine therapy, emergency and trauma.
- The ability to provide physical therapy services at both practice sessions and competitions.
- An understanding that Olympians have a very small window to recover from injury, and must be helped immediately if they are to compete
If you’re a sports loving therapist with the background to prove it, like to work and travel abroad these are the starting steps you need to take to get started on your goal to be part of the Olympics medical team for 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Seek professional recommendations, specifically written about your potential as an Olympics medical host
- Submit to background and security checks on the organizing committee page of the Rio2016 website, linked to here.
- Have a game plan for how your full-time patients will thrive in your absence; PTs volunteer their services for at least 2 weeks.
- Learn a little Portuguese; the Rio2016 Olympic Games site has plenty of links to get you well on your way!
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Apply online or call 1-800-617-0608 for more information about high paying physical therapy jobs, great benefits, free private housing, and more. Our recruiters are standing by to help you achieve your personal best!
Footnote: Just for the sports physical therapists’ and Olympics enthusiasts FYI: At Games time, a workforce of 4,000 people will have been hired by the Organizing Committee, plus 70,0000 volunteers and 35,00 collaborators working for contractors.
