COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — At any Olympic Games, there’s a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the athletes, and it can become extremely difficult for them to balance mental and physical health.
"It has really become an important topic with the Olympic and Paralympic movement, and also with our society,” said Dr. Jess Bartley with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.
During the delayed Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Team USA learned a lot about how a pandemic can add pressure to the mental health of Olympic athletes.
At the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Team USA has an updated plan that puts more mental health professionals on the ground to help its athletes.
"We will have two therapists and a psychiatrist who will be full-time mental health officers,” Bartley said.
Athletes who end up in quarantine during the games will find an expanded pandemic care package to keep their minds active.
"We’re getting everything from Nintendo switches that don’t need the internet, we have iPods, we have books to read, things to color, we have knitting, sewing beads,” Bartley said. “You name it, we have a little of everything just to keep people busy.”
> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.