Preparing for the Nordic Skiing Events at the Beijing Olympics in 2022: Evidence-Based Recommendations and Unanswered Questions

Abstract

At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the XC skiing, biathlon and nordic combined events will be held at altitudes of ~ 1700 m above sea level, possibly in cold environmental conditions and while requiring adjustment to several time zones. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may lead to sub-optimal preparations. The current commentary provides the following evidence-based recommendations for the Olympic preparations: make sure to have extensive experience of training (> 60 days annually) and competition at or above the altitude of competition (~ 1700 m), to optimize and individualize your strategies for acclimatization and competition. In preparing for the Olympics, 10–14 days at ~ 1700 m seems to optimize performance at this altitude effectively. An alternative strategy involves two–three weeks of training at > 2000 m, followed by 7–10 days of tapering off at ~ 1700 m. During each of the last 3 or 4 days prior to departure, shift your sleeping and eating schedule by 0.5–1 h towards the time zone in Beijing. In addition, we recommend that you arrive in Beijing one day earlier for each hour change in time zone, followed by appropriate timing of exposure to daylight, meals, social contacts, and naps, in combination with a gradual increase in training load. Optimize your own individual procedures for warming-up, as well as for maintaining body temperature during the period between the warm-up and competition, effective treatment of asthma (if necessary) and pacing at ~ 1700 m with cold ambient temperatures. Although we hope that these recommendations will be helpful in preparing for the Beijing Olympics in 2022, there is a clear need for more solid evidence gained through new sophisticated experiments and observational studies.

Preparing for snow-sport events at the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2022: recommendations and remaining questions

“…While table 2 summarises recommendations for optimal altitude acclimatisation in preparation for both the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, 49 table 1 includes impairment-specific considerations and applied practical recommendations to be aware when Para athletes with SCI, CP, limb deficiency and VI acclimatise in advance to competitions at low-to-moderate altitudes.…”

“…To reduce the impact of travel fatigue and jet lag on performance, we recommend that Para athletes, coaches and support staff consider actions before, under and after travel. Actions recommended for non-disabled athletes are discussed in more detail in a previously published study, 49 and a summary is provided in table 2 . Furthermore, we here provide impairment-specific considerations and corresponding applied practical recommendations in table 1 .…”

Effects of LHTH Training at 1600 m on Exercise Performance, Complete Blood Count and Erythropoietin: A Case Study of South Korean Elite Male Cross-Country Skiers

“…In addition, negative effects such as upper respiratory infection, immune suppression, sleep disturbance, and weight loss due to maladaptation to high altitude which can reduce exercise ability should not be overlooked [11,29,30]. In particular, cross-country skiers perform altitude training mainly in autumn and winter and are exposed to cold environments [6,31]. Altitude training for cross-country skiers can improve ski training and physiology, but it is necessary to consider the relatively low altitude that can prevent the negative effect of cold.…”

Editorial

“…The article is a co-operation between top level researchers from 12 different countries and can thus be considered a consensus paper. The article by Sandbakk et al explores evidence based recommendations in preparing for Nordic racing events at high altitude as will be the case at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games 2022 [8]. Heikura et al…”