OLYMPIC GAMES AND OLYMPIC ATHLETES

About the Book

OLYMPIC GAMES ARE UNIQUE OCCASION WHERE BEST MEN AND BEST WOMEN IN THE WORLD MEET TO COMPETE IN DIFFERENT ATHLETIC EVENTS . THIS BOOK TELLS THE HISTORY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES SINCE ITS START IN ANCIENT GREECE 700 YEARS BC TILL MODERN GAMES AS WE KNOW IT TODAY. ITS EVOLUTION OVER THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY HAS CREATED NUMEROUS CHALLENGES INCLUDING BOYCOTTS, BRIBERY, DOPING, ADMINISTRATION, MASS COMMUNICATION, COMMERCIALIZATION AND TERRORISM. THE BOOK DEMONSTRATES CLEARLY HOW COMPETITORS IN DIFFERENT ATHLETIC EVENTS DIFFER IN SIZE AND SHAPE, TRUNK / LIMB PROPORTIONS. THESE DIFFERENCES ARE FACTORS FOR MECHANICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL REASONS SET A LIMIT TO ATHLETIC ACTIVITY, HOWEVER FAVORABLE OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS TRAINING, SKILLS AND MOTIVATION MAY BE. IT ALSO DESCRIBES THE OPTIMAL BODY PROPORTIONS NEEDED FOR EACH ATHLETIC EVENTS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING AN OLYMPIC ATHLETE TO RISE, THEREAFTER COMES THE TRAINING , THE DESIRE TO EXCEL AND TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING NEVER ACHIEVED BEFORE . THE PROBLEMS OF EARLY AND LATE MATURATION; CHRONOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL AGES AMONG YOUNG ATHLETES AND HOW IT AFFECTS ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG ATHLETES; EFFECTS OF SPORTS ON FEMALE ATHLETES WAS ALSO DISCUSSED. THE BOOK WILL APPEAL TO PHYSICAL EDUCATIONALISTS, HUMAN BIOLOGISTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS AND TO ALL INTERESTED IN SPORTS. IT WILL HELP COACHES TO SCREEN YOUNG ATHLETES IN SCHOOLS AND TO SELECT THOSE FOR TRAINING IN SPECIFIC SKILLS WHICH SUITS BEST THEIR BODY PROPORTIONS ON SCIENTIFIC BASES , BECAUSE ATHLETES ARE BORN AND MADE.

About the Author

Is an associate professor of anatomy, embryology, and growth at the faculty of medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. (retired) PRESENT APPOINTMENT Associate professor of anatomy, embryology, and growth at the faculty of medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. (retired) PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Rotating house officer at Cairo university hospitals. 1962–1963. General duty medical officer, Ministry of Public Health, Egypt. May 1963–1967. Medical officer, Egyptian and Sudanese Armed Forces, during Middle East War. June 1967–1970. Demonstrator in anatomy and embryology, faculty of Medicine Assuit University, Egypt. January 1970. Assistant lecturer in anatomy and embryology, faculty of medicine, Assiut University, Egypt. March 1974. At Assiut University, my duties were demonstrating anatomy to under- and postgraduate medical and dental students, as well as conducting seminars and participating in final examinations. POSTS IN LONDON, UK London University, February 1975–December 1980 Department of Growth and Development, Institute of Child Health, London, as a postgraduate research fellow for a PhD on growth and development of children from birth up to maturity under the supervision of Prof. J. M. Tanner and Prof. W. A. Marshall from Loughborouch University. POSTS AT ALEXANDRIA UNIVERSITY Assistant professor of anatomy and embryology at faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University. January 1981–July 1993. Postdoctorate research fellow at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London, UK. Summer 1985. POSTS IN SAUDI ARABIA Senior physician at King Faisal Military Cantonment Hospital, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia. 1988–1993. My duties include teaching anatomy and basic medical science to Saudi postgraduate doctors, paramedics, and nurses enrolled in different nursing courses. I was also engaged in coordinating and conducting several research projects on growth and development of Saudi children, some of it was published and presented in conferences abroad. Also, I contributed in establishing the first nursing school in south of Saudi Arabia (Abha Region) for Saudi military men in 1993. • Project coordinator at Egyptian Fertility Care Society, 1994–1995 • Consultant at Dahran Air Base Hospital, Saudi Arabia, 1996