New Report Highlights Risks of Record Temperatures for Competitors

The Paris 2024 Olympics could become the hottest Games on record, with leading athletes expressing concerns that intense heat might lead to severe health issues, including the possibility of athletes collapsing or even dying during competition.

A recent report titled "Rings of Fire: Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics" highlights that the Tokyo 2021 Games, which saw temperatures above 34°C and humidity nearing 70%, provided a glimpse into a troubling new normal for the Summer Olympics. Competitors in Tokyo experienced extreme conditions, with incidents of vomiting, fainting at finish lines, and even the use of wheelchairs to assist athletes away from sun-scorched arenas. Daniil Medvedev, the No. 2 seeded tennis player at the Tokyo Games, raised concerns about the potential for death on the court during a match.

Météo France, the French national weather service, has predicted warmer than normal conditions for May to July, with a 70% chance of above-average temperatures. In response, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has proposed various mitigation measures to protect athletes' health. However, the IOC acknowledged that extreme heat remains a growing challenge for global sports.

Extreme heat and humidity impair athletes' ability to regulate their core body temperature, negatively impacting physical performance, especially in endurance events. Health risks for athletes competing in such conditions range from sunburn and heat cramps to heat exhaustion and potentially life-threatening heatstroke.