Today I had the distinct pleasure and honor of representing the ACC and CardioSmart and carrying the Olympic Torch through Bicester, England. My five minutes of “Olympic fame” were quite a whirlwind. The experience was unique, symbolic and memorable; cheering spectators, taking time to express an involvement in the very spirit that the Olympics embody: dedication, collaboration, and healthy competition in sports.  I was reminded of all the hard work and determination of the amazingly talented athletes who will be competing in a few short weeks. I was proud to carry the Olympic Torch in this symbolic run in the name of heart heath.

I was also reminded of why I was given this honor. As I wrote in a previous blog post, I am one of 22 participants chosen by the Coca-Cola Company to carry the Olympic Flame as part of its Live Positively campaign. Other participants running with me include leaders of national health organizations, former Olympians like Michelle Kwan and Summer Sanders, and young individuals representing charitable organizations. Participants were selected due to their commitment to live positively and make a difference in their communities.

Sports and exercise medicine is always a hot topic around the Olympics, and just last week The Lancet published a series of articles that discussed recognizing exercise as a “fifth vital sign”, one of the key indicators of health used by health professionals, and whether sports and exercise specifically contribute to the health of nations. Other papers addressed issues like the role of technology in improving sports performance; commentaries included training in sports and exercise medicine for medical undergraduates, Olympic winning, the art of medicine, drug cheating at the Olympics, and more. I invite you to peruse this interesting issue.

Be sure to check out more photos from my run on ACC’s Facebook page, and as we gear up for the 2012 Summer Olympics which will kick-off on July 27, stay tuned to ACC’s Facebook page for the latest cv news. I will also be Tweeting live from Bicester: you can follow me at @williamzoghbi.

On a related note, members from the ACC’s Sports and Exercise Cardiology Council will be leading sessions at the International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport (ICSEMIS) on July 19 – 24. Also known as the “Knowledge Olympics,” ICSEMIS is a global sports and science convention held every four years at the same location as the Olympics. Also, if sport and exercise cardiology is your area of interest, don’t miss ACC’s Sports Cardiology Summit: Protecting the Heart of the American Athlete, which will be held at Heart House in October. You can also join the Sports and Exercise Cardiology Section of the ACC.

Overall the Olympic Torch Relay was a unique, thrilling and memorable experience; a first for the ACC and cardiovascular organizations.

PS, Read more about my run in an article in CultureMap Houston.

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