On April 24 the Feature of Sophie Arie called attention on the very high prevalence of asthma in athletes, on the relevance of an optimal management of this disease in sport medicine, as well as on the fact that the “shop window” of elite athletes may have an important educational role for the general public. In the same issue, Fiona Goodlee invited all readers to share and discuss the content of the above article and of her Editor’s Choice for “Making the most of the Olympics”.

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative discussed the matter and reached a consensus on the enclosed brief document which focuses on the importance of diagnosing and treating allergic rhinitis in order to prevent asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in athletes. The considerations reported may possibly help not only athletes and sports doctors at present involved in the London Olympics, but also the 25% of the general population with allergic rhinitis who occasionally exercise.

Matteo Bonini and Jean Bousquet
on behalf of the ARIA Initiative*

The following are members of the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative: C. Bachert, C.E. Baena-Cagnani, A. Bedbrook, S. Bonini, J.L. Brozek, G.W. Canonica, A.A. Cruz, W.J. Fokkens, R. Gerth van Wijk, L. Grouse, P.W. Hellings, P. Howarth, O. Kalayci, N. Khaltaev, P. Kuna, D. Larenas Linnemann, K. Nekam, S. Palkonen, N.G. Papadopoulos, R. Pawankar, T.A. Popov, D. Price, J. Rosado Pinto, G. Rasi, D. Ryan, B. Samolinski, G.K. Scadding, H.J. Schunemann, D.M. Thomas, A. Yorgancioglu, O.M. Yusuf, T. Zuberbier. All ARIA members reviewed and commented the text drafted according to the outline agreed on at an ARIA meeting, and approved the final document.

Competing interests: None declared