As the 2016 Summer Olympics get started, they’re lots to look forward to, including incredible feats of athleticism. Have you ever wondered why the Olympic athletes wear that colourful tape across their body?

In 2008 or 2012 Olympics we have seen athletes’ bodies covered in stripes of colorful tape. While everyone is talking about sports, I’ve got one question about athletes? Why do they cover their body with weird taping (mostly blue)? Does it actually do something? What’s the reason behind this ?

What is That Blue Tape ? 

Many of the athletes who took part in the 2008 and 2012 summer Olympics used a tape called Kinesio tape. The stabilizing tape can be applied in hundreds of different ways on the body, using various “I,” “X,” “Y” and other specialized shapes.

This tape can be applied over muscles to reduce pain and inflammation.

The KT Tape has been developed to provide external support to your body.

The tape keeps you active as your body recovers from injuries.

This tape can also be used to treat sore muscles and shin splints

The tape’s manufacturer claims it is good for “the lymphatic and circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints.” Some sports doctors use it as a rehabilitative tool, to combat chronic injuries and as a preventative measure.

The president of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the head trainer at Clarion University in Pennsylvania, said: “There is no solid, independent scientific evidence that kinesio tape does what it is supposed to do. It is possible that it has health benefits” (such as boosting muscle flexibility and reducing pain) “but we just don’t know yet.”