India and Pakistan continue to swelter in record breaking heat of 50C/122F, Mexico’s deadly heat dome is headed for the U.S. and now even Finland, the north of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is reporting an official heatwave and is experiencing wildfires.
French forecaster Météo France has already predicted warmer than normal conditions for May to July in the country. How would the 10,500 athletes and 300,000 spectators arriving in Paris this July for the Paris 2024 Olympics be supported during hot weather? How are athletes preparing for that possibility?
The International Olympic Committee is prepared for such an event, with ‘IOC consensus statement on recommendations and regulations for sport events in the heat’ in place.
Heat-Related Recommendations
Athletes’ health and safety during sport events in the heat is a priority. It advises that athletes should prepare for expected environmental conditions, with heat acclimation being particularly relevant for Paris. Athletes should manage their health status before the event and plan their hydration, cooling, warm-up and clothing according to the risks associated with the forecasted environmental conditions.
It is expected that the local organiser will monitor and communicate the environmental conditions before and throughout the event, provide sufficient ice and hydration and propose adequate heat stress mitigation facilities such as shade and recovery areas.
Medical providers at the Games should receive specific training on exertional heat stroke management including early recognition and diagnosis, as well as in 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 pathway on the level of risk and the associated countermeasures.
This Wouldn’t Be A First
This is not the first time Olympic Games organisers would have to deal with heat-related impacts. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, temperatures hit 34C/93F in the Japanese capital, with humidity of nearly 70%. Events due to take place during the hottest parts of the day were moved to earlier or later times, locations were moved to seek cooler climates and misting stations were provided for enhanced cooling. The BBC reported last year that ‘a contingency plan is in place to adjust schedules, but a spokesman for Paris 2024 said there are no plans to change the location of any events.’
“Worst case scenario”
Race walker Rhydian Cowley has qualified as part of the Australian team for 20km walk, it will be his third Olympics. In the context of current global heatwaves and predictions of a ‘warmer than normal’ summer, Rhydian told me, “Myself and other Australian walkers are all preparing for a possible worst case scenario in Paris, which we know is made more likely by climate change. I’m in the middle of a training block that includes heat acclimation sessions in a heat chamber several times a week.”
He went on, “When I get to St Moritz for an altitude block, in June, we will be incorporating a post-training passive heat intervention, and then in the final staging camp before the Olympics, expect to acclimate further in the warm weather of Montpellier. We also regularly practice in-competition interventions such as pre-cooling, hyperhydration protocols, and in-race fuelling and cooling, to maximise our preparedness for extreme heat.”
“Knowing that climate change has made, and continues to make heatwaves more likely, and more extreme, Australian racewalkers know we need to have this comprehensive approach to racing in the heat, with input from dieticians & performance scientists, to maximise our chances of performing safely at championship events. When championship events are held in the Northern Hemisphere summer, where the riskiness of competing during a heatwave peaks, this is a standard part of our preparation, and it is culturally engrained now – it’s not something we can afford to slack on, from a performance or a safety standpoint.”
What About Spectators?
Spectators could also be impacted by hot weather, alongside volunteers and staff. Paris 2024 organisers acknowledge this possibility for spectators in their ticketing terms and conditions. Ticket holders must acknowledge and accept that attending may ‘imply certain inherent risks, dangers or hazards, including but not limited to, risks of COVID-19 or any of its existing or future variants transmission or other infectious diseases, as well as exposure to hot weather.’
If you are attending the Paris 2024 Olympics or any sporting event this summer and want to stay safe in the sun and heat, remember to apply high SPF suncreams, wear a hat, seek shade, cover up and wear loose clothing made of natural fibres. Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated is crucial and spectators will be allowed to enter all Paris 2024 venues with their own reusable bottles, excluding glass or sizes exceeding 75cl, a notable exception to existing French regulations, and free access to water fountains will be provided throughout.
