A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine emphasized that travelling and time zone difference play a major role in the performance of an athlete. Top athletes, who would be giving their best at home country, might fail to perform well in other countries.

This has been the major reason behind as to why British athletes won various accolades, praises and medals and Australian athletes were left with only disappointment.

Findings in the study revealed: “Those of the elite athletes who have to travel very long distances are nearly three times likelier to fall ill than when they play at home”.

Lead author of the study Professor Martin Schwellnus at the University of Cape Town suggests that athletes playing in their home countries are always at more benefits than the others.

A team, which performs well at home country, might not perform the same way in the other country, due to travelling, which makes them ill.

2010 Super 14 rugby tournament, which was held for over fourth months in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, were reported to have 469 cases of illness amongst eight teams.

This was because there was a time zone difference, which accounted between two and 11 hours.