India and Pakistan continue to be overwhelmed record breaking 50C/122F heat, Mexico’s deadly heat dome is heading towards the US and now even Finland, whose northern part is above the Arctic Circle, an official says heat and experiences fires.
The French forecaster Météo France already has was foreseen warmer than normal conditions for May to July in the country. How will the 10,500 athletes and 300,000 spectators arriving in Paris this July for the 2024 Paris Olympics be supported during the heat? How do athletes prepare for this eventuality?
People cool off at the Trocadero fountains next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris on July 23, 2019 as … [+]
The International Olympic Committee is prepared for such an event, with the “IOC consent statement on recommendations and regulations for heated sporting events’.
Heat-related recommendations
The health and safety of athletes during sporting events in the heat is a priority. He advises that athletes should prepare for the expected environmental conditions, with thermal acclimatization being particularly important for Paris. Athletes should manage their health status before competition and plan their hydration, cooling, warming up and clothing according to the risks associated with the predicted environmental conditions.
The local organizer is expected to monitor and communicate environmental conditions prior to and throughout the event, provide adequate ice and hydration, and recommend appropriate heat stress mitigation facilities such as shade and recovery areas.
Medical providers at the Games should receive specific training in the management of exercise-induced heatstroke, including early recognition and diagnosis, and the use of rapid on-site whole-body cooling, with “cool first, transport second” recommended. International federations are encouraged to develop their own specific environmental heat policies with a clear communication channel on the level of risk and related countermeasures.
This wouldn’t be the first
It’s not the first time Olympic organizers have had to deal with heat-related impacts. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, temperatures reached 34 degrees Celsius in the Japanese capital, with almost 70% humidity. Events that were to take place during the hottest times of the day were moved to earlier or later seasons, locations were moved to seek cooler climates, and fog stations were provided for improved cooling. The BBC mentionted last year that “there is a contingency plan to adjust timetables, but a Paris 2024 spokesman said there are no plans to change the location of any events”.
“at worst”
Race walker Rhydian Cowley has qualified as part of the Australian team for the 20km walk, which will be his third Olympics. In the context of today’s global heatwave and predictions of a ‘hotter than normal’ summer, Rhydian told me, “Myself and other Aussie walkers are all preparing for a possible worst case scenario in Paris, which we know is becoming more likely due to climate change. I’m in the middle of a training block that includes heat acclimation sessions in a hot tub several times a week.”
He continued, “When I get to St Moritz for an altitude block in June, we will incorporate a post-training passive thermal intervention and then in the last camp before the Olympics, expect to further acclimatise to the hot weather. of Montpellier. We also regularly practice in-race interventions such as pre-cooling, hyperhydration and in-race feeding and cooling protocols to maximize our preparedness for extreme heat.”
SAPPORO, JAPAN – AUGUST 06: Rhydian Cowley of Team Australia grabs water as he competes in the … [+]
“Knowing that climate change has made and continues to make heat waves more likely and more extreme, Australian runners know we need to have this integrated approach to racing in the heat, with input from nutritionists and performance scientists, to maximize our chances of performing safely in the league events. When league events are held in the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, where the risk of playing during a heatwave is at its peak, this is a standard part of our preparation and is culturally ingrained now – it’s not something we can afford, from a show or a security point of view”.
What about the viewers?
Spectators could also be affected by the hot weather, along with volunteers and staff. Paris 2024 organizers acknowledge this option for spectators in their ticketing terms and conditions. Ticket holders must acknowledge and accept that participation may “involve certain inherent risks, hazards or risks, including but not limited to the risks of transmission of COVID-19 or any of its existing or future variants or other infectious diseases, as and exposure to hot weather.’
If you are watching the Paris 2024 Olympics or any sporting event this summer and want Stay safe in the sun and heat, remember to apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor, wear a hat, seek shade, cover up and wear loose clothing made from natural fibers. Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated is vital and spectators will be able to enter all Paris 2024 venues with their own reusable bottles, except for glass or sizes above 75cl, a notable exception to existing French regulations and free access to the fountains will be provided. throughout.
