(사진제공=AP)
(사진제공=AP)
(사진제공=AP)
(사진제공=AP)
[런던=AP/KNS뉴스통신] 6일 영국 정부는 영국 올림픽 팀 책임 닥터가 주장한 런던 올림픽에 참가한 영국 선수들은 병원균으로 선수가 병에 걸리는 것을 방지하기 위해 악수를 하지 말아야 한다는 권고를 거부했다.
정부의 보건 관계자는 이 가이드라인에 대해 의아해 하는 한편 올림픽 기대주들은 “무례하고” “의미 없다”고 조롱조로 의견을 나타냈다.
영국 올림픽 대표팀의 책임의사인 이안 멕커디 박사는 올림픽 빌리지는 감염에 “상당히 적대적인” 환경이며 악수 금지는 “그렇게 나쁜 것이 아니다”라고 기자들에게 브리핑했었다.
보건부는 올림픽 선수들은 그의 조언에 귀를 기우리지 않도록 촉구하고 영국의 미디어도 그의 코멘트에 대해 조롱하는 분위기라고 전했다.
(영문기사 원문)
Britain says handshakes OK for its Olympians
LONDON (AP) — On the other hand ...
The government has rejected advice from the British Olympic team's top doctor that athletes should not shake hands at the London Games to avoid germs that could make them sick.
Government health advisers seemed perplexed by the guidelines, which Olympic hopefuls derided as "rude" and "pointless."
By the end of the day, the British Olympic Association had softened its stance.
Yes, the athletes will be able to greet others among the 10,000 visiting Olympians and hundreds of dignitaries with handshakes. They'll just have to make sure they wash thoroughly later.
"Team GB's 550 athletes will of course warmly welcome their fellow competitors from around the world — there is no question about that," BOA communications director Darryl Seibel said Tuesday. "We are not advising our athletes to avoid shaking hands. We are simply reminding them to follow common-sense measures by maintaining good hand hygiene to minimize the risk of becoming ill."
During a briefing with a small group of reporters, BOA chief medical officer Dr. Ian McCurdie pointed out that the Olympic Village environment could be a "pretty hostile one" for infections and said a handshake ban was "not such a bad thing."
His comments went viral in Britain, drawing derision on TV and radio.
Even the Department of Health urged Olympians to disregard the advice.
김희광 기자 april4241@naver.com
