Heatwave alert: Paris Olympics face looming climate crisis

Times of IndiaTIMESOFINDIA.COM/ Created : Jun 21, 2024, 20:00 IST

Heatwave alert: Paris Olympics face looming climate crisis

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Synopsis

Climate scientists warn of extreme heat threat at Paris Olympics in 2024. Report titled 'Rings of Fire' highlights health risks in scorching July and August temperatures.

Heatwave alert: Paris Olympics face looming climate crisis

As the Paris Olympics 2024 draw closer, environment scientists have warned of the threat posed by extreme heat during the Games. A report titled "Rings of Fire" sheds light on concerns about the potential health risks athletes face in the scorching July and August temperatures expected in 2024.

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Highlighting the intensity of the issue, leading athletes such as Lord Sebastian Coe and participants across various sports have expressed apprehension over the possibility of competitors collapsing or even dying due to heat-related conditions. This concern stems from the unprecedented high temperatures experienced in 2023 and the continuation of this trend into 2024.

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The report by the University of Portsmouth, Climate Co Central, and Front Runners, with support from the British Association for Sustainable Sport and expertise from Climate Central, proposes five critical recommendations. These aim to safeguard the well-being of athletes and spectators alike, calling for enhanced safety measures and a reconsideration of fossil fuel sponsorships in sports.

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Eleven Olympians, including multiple world champions and Olympic medalists, collaborated closely with climate scientists and leading heat physiologists to compile the report. Their insights underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the escalating risks posed by climate change to sporting events.

Reflecting on lessons from past events, such as the extremely notoriously hot Tokyo Games, where temperatures soared above 34°C, the report draws parallels to the current climate crisis exacerbated by fossil fuel emissions. The scorching conditions in Paris are anticipated to surpass those of Tokyo, driven by record-breaking global temperatures observed throughout 2023 and into 2024.

The report also recalls the devastating heatwave in France in 2003, which claimed over 14,000 lives, and warns of similar risks during the Paris Olympics, citing a significant rise in regional temperatures since the city last hosted the Games a century ago.

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The Paris Olympics are scheduled between July 26 and August 11, 2024. Stakeholders are urged to prioritize climate resilience and safety measures to ensure the Games proceed without compromising the well-being of participants and attendees.