Watching Olympics 'could kill you'

Watching this month’s Olympic Games could kill you, a top cardiologist has warned unfit sports enthusiasts.Dr Klaus Kallmayer, who heads up the department of cardiology at City Hospital in Dubai, on Tuesday urged viewers not to get too excited during the sporting spectacle for fear of bringing on a heart attack.

If fact, Kallmayer said people watching the event from their sofas were more at risk of a heart attack than the athletes actually competing.

Kallmayer said research has shown cardiovascular incidents rose during sporting events and viewers in the UAE were particularly at risk due to the Gulf state’s poor track record of heart attacks.

“Sports enthusiasts, who prefer watching the proceedings from the sofa rather than engaging in physical activity themselves, should be aware that statistically the comfort of their living room is no safer than actually competing,” Kallmayer said.

“A study by the University of Munich, Germany has proven that watching a stressful sports game involving the national team can more than double the risk of an acute cardiovascular event.

“And the UAE's poor cardiovascular record means spectators here can be even more at risk.”

The warning comes a day after it was announced the Beijing Olympic Games will be shown free of charge on Dubai Sports Channel and Abu Dhabi Sports Channel from Friday.

The opening ceremony on Friday will be broadcast from 4pm UAE time and from Saturday the coverage will be from 8am to 8pm with a midnight news cast, he added.

The Dubai Sports Channel 2 on Nilesat will have an English commentary and channels 1 and 3 will have Arabic commentary.

The Olympic Games kicks off on Aug. 8 and includes eight entrants from the UAE.