As the Paris Olympics approach, a coalition of Olympians, climate scientists, and physiologists has issued a warning about the severe danger that extreme heat poses to the world’s largest sporting event.
They have articulated their concerns in a joint report titled “Rings of Fire.”
Top athletes caution that the intense heat expected during the Paris Olympics in July and August 2024 may result in competitors collapsing and, in the most severe cases, fatalities occurring during the events.
Athletes and officials, including Lord Sebastian Coe and athletes from diverse disciplines, have expressed worries about health risks exacerbated by the exceptionally high temperatures in 2023 and the continuation of this heating trend into 2024.
The report concludes with five crucial recommendations to protect the safety of athletes and spectators, and calls for a reassessment of sponsorship from fossil fuel companies in sports. Led by the University of Portsmouth, Climate Co Central, and Front Runners, the report has gained backing from the British Association for Sustainable Sport and utilizes Climate Central’s expertise.
A group of eleven Olympians, including recipients of five world championships and six Olympic medals, have collaborated with climate scientists and prominent heat physiologists on the report.
Katie Rood, a New Zealand football team striker, expresses concern: “The direction things are heading and the rapid deterioration of the climate around us is terrifying.”
Jamie Farndale, a rugby sevens player for Britain, remarks, “Athletes aren’t inclined to quit, but if conditions become excessively hazardous, there’s a real risk of fatalities.”
Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics and a four-time Olympic medalist, emphasizes, “For athletes, challenges ranging from minor disruptions like sleep issues and sudden event schedule changes to more serious health impacts such as heightened heat stress and injuries can have a diverse and extensive impact. As global temperatures climb, climate change must increasingly be recognized as an existential threat to sports.”
Drawing lessons from history
Dubbed the “hottest in history,” the Tokyo Games saw temperatures exceeding 34°C and humidity nearing 70%, presenting significant health risks to athletes. The upcoming Paris Games could potentially exceed those conditions, as climate change, fueled by fossil fuel emissions, has intensified heat waves in recent months.
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