Winter Olympics injury rate out

Research has shown at least one in 10 athletes suffered an injury during the 2010 Winter Olympics, with alpine freestyle and snowboard cross considered among the most hazardous sports.

Reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the study recorded as many as 287 injuries and 185 illnesses during the international multi-sport event held in Canada. Other dangerous sports included bobsleigh, ice hockey and short track. The Nordic skiing events were considered among the lowest risk sports, including the biathlon, cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined.

The athletes mostly sustained head, spine or knees injuries. They suffered the injuries either during training or the competition. A total of 82 doctors, who were looking after 2567 athletes, participated in the study.