Epidemiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Visitors for the London 2012 Olympic Games: A Review of Attendees at Sexual Health Services

Mass gatherings and large sporting events, such as the Olympics, may potentially pose a risk of increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission and increase burden on local STI services. The objectives of this analysis were to assess whether the STI profile of Olympic visitors differed from that of the local STI clinic population and to investigate what impact these visitors had on local STI services.

Self-administered questionnaires (completed by 29,292 patients) were used to determine the visitor status of patients attending 20 STI clinics, between July 20, 2012, and September 16, 2012, in the host cities, London and Weymouth. Using routine surveillance data from the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset version 2, Olympic visitors were compared with usual attendees (local residents and non-Olympic visitors) in terms of their demographic characteristics, services utilized, and STIs diagnosed using univariate and multivariate methods.

Compared with usual attendees, Olympic visitors were more likely to be heterosexual males (56.0% vs. 34.9%, P = 0.001), aged between 15 and 24 years of age (47.1% vs. 34.0%, P = 0.001), of white ethnicity (81.9% vs. 66.4%, P = 0.001), and born in Australasia, Asia, North America, or South America (18.8% vs. 12.0%, P = 0.006). Olympic visitors constituted 1% of new clinic attendances and were less likely to be diagnosed as having a new STI (adjusted odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.98; P = 0.040).

In this first multisite study to examine the effect of Olympic visitors on local sexual health services, the 2012 Olympic Games was found to have minimal impact. This suggests that a "business as usual" approach would have been sufficient.

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By:  Sile B1, Mohammed H, Crook P, Hughes G, Mercer C, Cassel J, Coyne K, Hartley A, Hall V, Brook G.

• 1From the *HIV/STI Department and †Field Epidemiology Services, Public Health England, London, UK; ‡University College London, London, UK; §Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK; ¶Public Health England, Kent, Surrey, UK; ∥Sussex PHE Centre, Horsham, UK; **Department of Sexual Health and HIV, Homerton University Hospital, London, UK; ††Infection and Immunity Department, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK; and ‡‡Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Central Middlesex Hospital, London, UK. 

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Evaluating Sexual Health Planning for the London 2012 Olympics

The public health impact of mass gatherings should not be underestimated, requiring careful planning. This evaluation identified the successes and failures of a programme targeted to mitigate against potential increases in sexual ill health during the London 2012 Olympics.

Programme planning was evaluated using documentary analysis. Stakeholders' experiences were explored using an online survey. Finally, selected stakeholders were interviewed in depth.

Over 100 documents were analysed, 36 survey responses received and 12 interviews conducted. 

• Most respondents felt aims were appropriate, potentially overambitious. ‘Business as usual’, with no disruption or increased demand, was reported in sexual health services. 
• Some interviewees felt evidence for increased demand was limited, although contingency planning was needed. 
• Signposting service users and providing ‘residual risk responses’ appeared successful. 
• Planned service transformation was not fully achieved and perhaps inappropriate, although new service collaborations emerged. 
• Over 2000 individuals participated; wider public engagement was seen as inappropriate. 
• A ‘Sex Factor 2012’ competition was particularly successful. 
• Legacy opportunities included planning work, groundwork for transformation, relationship building and continuing the resilience changes.

The Games allowed sexual health services to explore new ways of working, engage with stakeholders and develop new relationships, although in reality demand for services did not increase.

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By: 

Ava Lorenc, Research Fellow and 

Nicola Robinson, Professor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Integrated Health

1. Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London SE1 0AA, UK