Paris 2024 Summer Olympics could break heat records. Will it put athletes at risk?

The risk of a heat wave looms over the Paris Olympics.

The last Summer Olympics in Tokyo were the hottest in history, but a new report on the risks of heat at the Paris Olympics warns that this year could be even hotter.

Since Paris last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924, the average temperature at this time of year has increased by about 3.1 degrees Celsius (or about 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Heat waves have increased in frequency and intensity in Paris. O “urban heat island effect“, according to which urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas, only worsened the problem in the Paris region.

A Parisian summer can see temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. On July 25, 2019, Paris reached its all time high record temperature of 108.7 degrees Fahrenheit, almost exactly five years before the start of the Summer Olympics.

As the world heats up due of Climate Changeathletes and scientists are expressing concern about what this means for the future of the height of sporting competition that occurs in the height of summer.

Last summer in France, more than 5,000 people died due to the sweltering heat.

“I’m still surprised by the timing of these Olympics,” says Kaitlyn Trudeau, senior research associate for climate science at Climate Central. “We have seen deadly heat waves in this exact location, at this exact moment, many times in recent history.”

Dangers to athletes competing and training in these conditions can range from heat cramps to heatstroke collapse.

James Farndale, a rugby player who has represented Scotland and Great Britain, says he trained in heat chambers at a training base in Scotland before competing in the Dubai Seven. He warned that athletes are not conditioned to hold back, even in unsafe conditions.

“It’s not in an athlete’s DNA to stop and if the conditions are very dangerous, I think there is a risk of fatalities,” says Farnale.

O Tokyo Olympics had athletes vomiting and even fainting at the finish line with almost one in every 100 athletes suffering from a heat-related illness.

An athlete at the last Summer Olympics raised concerns about heat exhaustion mid-match. Daniel Medvedev, one of the top five men’s tennis players in the rankings, took a series of medical breaks during his tennis match before being asked if he can continue playing.

“I can finish the match, but I can die,” Medvedev replied. “If I die, will you be responsible?”

The rise in not just temperatures but humidity increases the risk of heatstroke, according to Trudeau, who says it makes it harder for the body to sweat, cool down and regulate core temperature.

Paris Olympics organizers say heat risks have been taken into account in scheduling outdoor sports, including scheduling early-morning marathon and triathlon events. Contingency plans are in place to reschedule events depending on the heat and humidity level each day. Each decision will be made on a sport-by-sport basis with the International Federation, according to a statement to CBS News from a Paris 2024 spokesperson.

These efforts to stay protected from extreme heat will extend beyond athletes to include fans, volunteers and workers. Spectators will be able to bring their own water bottles. Free water points will be available at each venue, at a rate of one for every 300 spectators.

Paris 2024 has promised to hold Olympic Games that are “more responsible, more sustainable and more inclusive”. Organizers emphasized a focus on reducing the carbon footprint by using pre-existing locations and utilizing the subway and cycle paths to minimize emissions from travel.

A climate mitigation effort has raised concerns from athletes. The Olympic Village will not have air conditioning. A water-based cooling system will be used instead, but some athletes are bringing their own air conditioning units. The US, UK, Australia, Denmark and Italy are everyone bringing its own AC with the Australian Olympic Committee calling its decision to install air conditioning in its athletes’ rooms “strategic for high performance”, according to The Guardian.

“We designed these buildings to be comfortable places to live in the summer, in 2024 and beyond, and we don’t need air conditioning in these buildings because we oriented the facades so they weren’t too exposed. sun during the summer, and on the facades, the insulation is really efficient”, said Yann Krysinski, responsible for delivering sites and infrastructure in Paris 2024. Reuters.

For interested countries, the Olympics will provide “low-emission mobile cooling units” available for rent, according to a Paris 2024 spokesperson.

The dedication to climate-friendly games does not appear to extend to the list of sponsors. National Olympic and Paralympic team sponsors include British Gas for Team Great Britain; Hancock Prospecting, a mining company, for the Australian Olympic team; and Reliance Industries Limited, a petrochemical conglomerate, for the Indian Olympic Association.

Climate activists are encouraging athletes to speak openly about their concerns about heat risk and climate change in general.

“Something I’m really interested in sport doing here is raising an alarm in this space because of the implications of a two or three degrees warmer world on the lives of millions and billions of people,” says Farndale.