by S. King, , June 18 2024, BBC
The summer Olympics and Paralympic games in Paris are just over a month away and there is concern about the potential effects of extreme heat.
Some parts of Europe have already registered temperatures over 40C and it is not unreasonable to suggest that elsewhere in Europe will experience heatwaves in the coming months.
In a report published on Tuesday, Lord Coe, President of World Athletics, says “climate change should increasingly be viewed as an existential threat to sport”.
Intense heat could affect the events, competitors, spectators and officials.
Changing climate of Paris
We don’t know what the forecast will be for Paris during the Olympic period, but Meteo France – the national weather service – has said that summer is likely to be warmer than average, external.
France has experienced deadly summer heatwaves in the past.
The highest recorded temperature in Paris is 42.6C set at the end of July 2019.
And more recently in 2022, during the Olympic period, a lengthy heatwave saw maximum temperatures reach 36C.
That year the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in France estimated heat-related deaths of 11,000 throughout the summer.
At the last Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, extreme heat made it “torturous” for athletes and volunteers, according to local meteorologists.
It was the hottest Olympic Games on record with sweltering temperatures of 34C and humidity of 70%, which would have made it feel like 47C.
Tennis player Daniel Medvedev spoke of “dying on court” during the heat of a match.
Other competitors vomited and fainted on the finish line because of the high temperatures.
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