(A278) Providing Medical Coverage for an Unfamiliar Sport Event: Tent-Pegging and the 2nd Asian Beach Games

Abstract

Background

The addition of Tent-pegging to the 2nd Asian Beach games as one of its 14 Competition events was a welcomed step, especially to the equestrian community of the games' host country, Oman. An equestrian sport of ancient military origin with a long history in Asia, Tent-pegging It a fast-paced sport in which a lance or sword is used to pick pegs off the ground while riding a horse at full gallop. The sport is gaining popularity especially in a number of countries around the world, including Oman.

Discussion and Observations

The hazards inherent in equestrian sports and specifically in Tent –pegging, furthermore, the mass gathering created by the equine presence, the participants, as well as the spectators, required a well planned medical coverage to safely conduct the games. Taking into account that Tent-pegging events normally receive limited medical support, the presentation will discuss the concepts and methods that are commonly followed by the host country on planning and implementing the medical care to sport events of Olympic standards, along with an illustration on how exclusively these concepts were applied to the Tent -pegging events during the 2nd Asian Beach Games. In addition, the presentation will elaborate on the challenges that were dealt with by the medical care providers, and the outcome following a 1st major sporting event of such a scale to be conducted by the host country, Oman. As more countries bid to host major sport events for their first time, suggestion for improving the methodology of providing medical coverage to a sport event will be discussed in the presentation.