Support as a Headquarters Trainer for the Japanese Delegation at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Abstract

    This report describes the support activities of the headquarters trainers of the Japanese delegation at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Headquarters trainer support has been ongoing since the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and plays an essential role in international multi-sport competitions. For this event, three trainers were dispatched by the Japanese Paralympic Committee (JPC). We collaborated with the medical office to provide conditioning support, manage rental bedrooms, and assist at competition venues.
    The headquarters trainer room operated for 19 days, primarily from 8:00 to 22:00, with additional support provided as needed. A total of 131 cases were handled, with the most frequently treated areas being the thigh (41 cases) and shoulder (31 cases). The room was utilized by 15 out of 23 National Federations (NFs), accounting for 63％ of total usage, with a high proportion of acute injury cases. Venue visits facilitated information exchange with NF trainers and performance enhancement staff, providing opportunities to share sport-specific conditioning challenges.
    In recent years, collaboration among the Japan Sport Council (JSC), the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), and JPC has strengthened, enabling the sharing of electronic medical records and equipment through the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences (JISS) clinic. This has contributed to an improved support environment.
    Additionally, the increased presence of NF-accompanying trainers and the expanded use of JSC’s off-site support base have led to a decline in the number of cases handled by the headquarters trainer room. This trend suggests that the NF-led conditioning support system has been enhanced, ensuring that athletes receive appropriate care within their teams. However, the headquarters trainer room continues to play a vital role in addressing acute injuries, supporting cases beyond NF capacity, and coordinating with JSC off-site support facilities.
    Moving forward, further strengthening of acute injury response and inter-organizational collaboration will be essential to optimizing athlete support in international multi-sport competitions.