Too many heat risks for the health of athletes during the Paris Olympics in July and August: High temperatures could lead to competitors collapsing and, in the worst case scenario, dying during the Games. This is itwarning from 11 Olympic athletesincluding the winners of five world championships and six Olympic medals, who are gathered with climate scientists and heat physiologists to illustrate the threat posed by extreme heat to athletes, in the ‘Rings of Fire’ report.
“For athletes the consequences can be varied and far-reaching, from smaller issues impacting performance, such as sleep disruption and last-minute changes in event times, to more serious health impacts, heat stress and injury. With global temperatures continuing to rise, climate change should be increasingly seen as an existential threat to sport,” says Lord Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics and 4-time Olympic medalist. “It is not in an athlete’s DNA to stop and if the conditions are too dangerous I think there is a risk of fatal accidents,” adds Jamie Farndale, rugby sevens player for Great Britain.
The Tokyo Games have been called “the hottest in history”with temperatures that exceeded 34 degrees C and humidity that approached 70%, with serious risks to the health of the competitors. The Paris Games – experts warn – could surpass this record, given the record heat peaks of recent months. According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2023 was the warmest year on record and 2024 appears to show the same trend.
The report contains 5 recommendations for sports authorities. These include: planning intelligently to avoid extreme heat; keep athletes and fans safe with improved rehydration and cooling plans; give athletes the opportunity to express their opinion on climate change; increase collaboration between sports bodies and athletes for climate awareness campaigns; reevaluate fossil fuel sponsorship in sports.
The Japanese athlete and 2019 world champion Yusuke Suzuki explains how the effects of heatstroke derailed his Olympic dreams in Tokyo and have had a profound personal and professional impact, including on his physical and mental health. Pragnya Mohan, the greatest triathlon athlete in Indian history, says she can no longer train in her country due to the extreme heat there. Among the other athletes present in the report also the Italian Elena Vallortigara, bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships in the high jump.
The report, written by Basis and FrontRunners, concludes by urging the sporting community to “address these concerns and implement a series of recommendations suggested by athletes to ensure the safety and well-being of competitors. It is urgent to listen to their voices and put greater emphasis on their protection as climate problems intensify.”
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