In A First, 'Sleep Advisor' To Accompany Indian Contingent At Paris Olympics 2024
Dr Monika Sharma, an expert in optimising sleep which is linked to the performance and recovery of sportspersons, will travel to Paris as the sleep advisor for the Indian contingent.
For the first time, a 'sleep advisor' will accompany the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics, which is scheduled to be held between July 26 and August 11.
The Indian Express reported that an expert will ensure the athletes are not sleep-deprived. Besides the stress that the grandest sporting spectacle in the world could trigger in athletes, Europe's long daylight hours in July-August, too, could disturb sleep cycles with the sun rising as early as 4 am and setting as late as 11 pm.
Another potential sleep disruptor this year are high summer temperatures predicted during the Games in the French capital. The rooms at the Games Village do not have fans or air-conditioners.
Meet The Sleep Expert
Dr Monika Sharma, an expert in optimising sleep which is linked to the performance and recovery of sportspersons, will travel to Paris as the sleep advisor for the Indian contingent.
Terming the decision "groundbreaking and forward-thinking," Dr Sharma, who has a fellowship from the University of Pennsylvania, told The Indian Express, "The aim essentially is to develop an environment which is sleep conducive. The Olympic Village is a stressful environment; not ideal sleeping conditions. We will support and help the athletes in coping with the challenges and mitigate their consequences."
Dr Sharma has already begun consultations with the Indian athletes in a bid to "help them identify their challenges and remove some of the barriers to good sleep."
In addition, the report said the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)-appointed medical team is likely to install sleeping pods inside the Games Village, giving the athletes exclusive access. The entire team will also be given a 'travel sleeping kit' to help them doze off.
Sportspersons Who Battled Sleep Deprivation
The report cited the example of Abhinav Bindra, who was totally sleep-deprived the night before he won independent India's first Olympic gold. Ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, the International Olympic Committee’s research revealed that nearly 49% of athletes surveyed admitted they had been "poor sleepers".
Javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, spent most nights tossing and turning in bed before his gold medal-winning effort at the Tokyo Games, the report added.
