London demonstrates world’s best medical facilities in run up to 2012 Olympic decision

The images from the Siemens scanner reveal in amazing detail the athletes’ lungs, internal organs and vascular systems, as well as their muscular and bone structures. The scan also showed the results of Jo’s recent operation to repair her injured left knee. She is now focused on competing at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

The full-body MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner from Siemens accurately diagnoses athletes’ injuries ensuring they receive the most effective treatment and training regime. It is also used to detect a wide range of medical conditions, such as cancer, muscular conditions and brain disease.

James Cracknell, who won Olympic gold medals in Sydney and Athens, said: “Any city which is trying to host the Games must have state-of-the-art facilities. MRI is a hugely important facility in determining injuries early and these images of the body are absolutely amazing. If you have a problem, whether you are a sportsman or not, being able to see what’s causing it is actually a huge part of the solution.”

The scanner at Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust, was the first to be installed in London, but a further 15 scanners are now being introduced to UK hospitals.

Guenter Dombrowe, UK managing director of Siemens Medical Solutions, said: “This machine takes a very high resolution image of the entire body within a short time. That allows athletes to check immediately if they have any injuries, such as sprains or tears.

“The scanner is mainly used to diagnose serious diseases like cancer in patients, but because it uses a completely non-hazardous technique, it is particularly suitable to help athletes diagnose sports injuries.”

Siemens designs and manufactures the superconducting magnets which are at the core of the MRI scanners at a factory in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. More than a third of MRI scanners in hospitals around the world have a magnet from the UK factory, which exports 97 per cent of its output and employs around 700 people.

Siemens is a Major Partner to the London 2012 bid to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the UK. London’s bid is benefiting from Siemens’ extensive experience in global events. At the Athens Olympics, Siemens provided a range of services including transportation, ticketing, medical infrastructure and an advanced security and communications system.