While the games are underway, bringing stories both great and tragic from the mountains of Vancouver, there is an unsung chronicle of the technology supporting these athletes in their quest for Olympic Gold. The Vancouver Olympic Committee estimates $5 million in medical equipment/supplies have been donated for the Games in 2010. In fact, many athletes would not be able to maintain top form or in some cases even compete without the great Medical Devices advancing sports medicine at the Olympics. Three examples of such products come from three very different companies.

Kris Freeman may not have won a medal in yesterday's 15k, but he is still regarded as one of the country's most elite cross-country skiers. As a member of US Ski Team he has won many international races, and all while battling Type I diabetes. Freeman is able to compete even with his condition thanks in part to Insulet's OmniPod® System, the only tubing-free insulin pump. With its durable design, Freeman can actually can use the pump to manage his diabetes during the race. Freeman hopes to continue the games injury-free and perhaps medal in his 2 remaining events.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the Olympics. In severe cases, athletes can lose a significant amount of blood from a sustained injury. Belmont Instrument Corp's Rapid Infuser is being used at the Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), which acts as a mobile ER. In addition to hospital use, the Rapid Infuser is actually "battle-tested" at the US Army stations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Olympic athletes in need of care can benefit from such devices and facilities. These facilities also need to connect with each other in order to be most effective.

Providing the IT infrastructure, GE is probably the most prominent at the games, with their $80 million "Healthymagination" campaign. Once an athlete in need of care is receiving medical treatment, GE's Centricity® solution is used to connect medical staff to real-time information about their patients. In its debut at the Olympic Winter Games, GE Healthcare's technology allows doctors to quickly access the latest information and images needed to treat an injured athlete. The solution has been installed at the MMU, linking it to both the main Vancouver Polyclinic, and the Whistler Polyclinic. The athletes at these stations count on the medical equipment and technology, but surprisingly so do the spectators and staff.

More than 250,000 people are attending or supporting the venues at Vancouver and Whistler for the 2010 Olympics. Judging from the Winter Games held in Salt Lake City, UT more of them will need medical attention than will the athletes. Back in 2002, 11,575 medical cases were recorded, with Olympic athletes accounting for only 1,377. These number include officials, media, contractors, volunteers and staff in addition to the spectators in need of medical attention.

As the games continue, we will no doubt look to the headlines for the medal counts and stories of Olympic glory. Still, "below the fold", there is a less-read but equally great story. This is the story of the scientists, engineers, marketers, manufacturers, and regulatory specialists who are creating the medical equipment that supports these athletes in their quest to become Olympic champions.