Athletes lead us by the hand to understanding

TICKING the boxes on the Healthy Athletes Programme questionnaire, respondents came upon an unusual query: do you chew tobacco?

A mistake surely. How many athletes are likely to chew tobacco before big events, or take to bed after a contest with a glass of warm milk and a plug of dried leaves for comfort?

The volunteer collecting the answers in a worldwide survey of the health of Special Olympics athletes, their coaches, parents and guardians, was surprised that the question should be met by surprise.