Chiropractor headed to Olympic Village clinic in Brazil

Amateur athlete Clive Bridgham maintains his sports medicine chiropractic practice in Barrington. / COURTESY CLIVE BRIDGHAM
Amateur athlete Clive Bridgham maintains his sports medicine chiropractic practice in Barrington. / COURTESY CLIVE BRIDGHAM

BARRINGTON – Sailor, surfer and part-time ski instructor in Aspen, Colo., Clive Bridgham is going to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – but not as an athlete. Rather, the sports medicine chiropractic physician, who maintains a solo practice in Barrington, will volunteer in the Olympic Village’s Polyclinic, as a medical volunteer treating athletes before and during the Olympic Games. Equipped with MRI scanners, wireless digital X-ray equipment and ultrasound imaging, the Polyclinic will be staffed by providers skilled in dentistry, dermatology, ophthalmology, physiotherapy and other disciplines, according to information from Rio 2016, the official source for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
As a member of FICS, the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic, Bridgham learned of the opportunity to apply to volunteer at the Olympics. After submitting a lengthy application, he had a one-hour Skype interview with the local organizing committee in Brazil before hearing the good news. “This is like being awarded the Academy Award; it’s a very special privilege,” Bridgham told Providence Business News in a phone interview.

Asked whether he had concerns about Zika, other medical issues and terrorism, Bridgham replied, “I don’t want to be negative, but when I look at the level of violence in Rhode Island, that’s almost more of a concern. Mosquito-borne illnesses [are] here in Rhode Island and we have Lyme disease [here], which they don’t have in Brazil.” Emphasizing that security and safety is paramount for the athletes, the visitors and the approximate 50,000 volunteers who will be in Brazil for the games, Bridgham added that the organizers have put a great deal of thought and effort into hosting safe and wonderful Olympic Games. As a volunteer, Bridgham participated in extensive online classes, sponsored by Rio 2016, that addressed safety, security and other issues.

International sports are a way of getting people from around the world together peacefully, said Bridgham, who has an extensive history of volunteering his medical services. He first volunteered for Rhode Island-based surfing competitions; from there, he was invited to regional and national events. He volunteered at the first summer Extreme Games in Providence in 1995; the World Surfing Games in California in 1996, Portugal in 1998 and Brazil in 2000; and the World Games in Germany in 2005 and Taiwan in 2009, among others.

“During the ancient Olympics, wars and battles were stopped during [the competitions]; I wish that could be the case today,” he said. Seeing young people from warring countries coming together to compete on the basis of athletic competition, rather than through hate and war, is an overwhelming experience, said Bridgham. “They’re … getting to know each other and learning that they’re not the enemy; it’s so special to have that.”

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Bridgham expressed his hope that young people today, especially in Rhode Island, and future generations will be inspired by the Olympics, as they demonstrate examples of athletes overcoming limits and persevering. Rhode Island’s Elizabeth Beisel (a swimmer), Louisa Chafee and Stu McNay (sailors) and Anders Weiss (a rower and a Brown University 2015 graduate from Barrington) will all compete this summer in Brazil, he said.

He’s scheduled to leave for Brazil on July 26 – as many athletes move into the Olympic Village before the summer games begin – and to return Aug. 18. His work shifts of 6 a.m.-3 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m., plus the occasional day off, will allow Bridgham to observe some competitions.

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