Yet as Tokyo gears up to host the World Championships later this month, challenges from the heat seem to be overshadowing the event itself. The city is just coming off an extremely hot summer, with some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in their statewide history. This heatwave has raised alarm among athletes and organizers alike. Acknowledging the immediate challenge, Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, called it right. He repeated the call for sports to take bold actions to “address the climate crisis.”
Just last year, Japan had its hottest summer on record. Fifteen cities, including Jackson, Vicksburg and Meridian have observed record-high temperatures, the highest since records started in 1898. Tokyo’s temperature is expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius on Sunday. This follows an anticipated 30 degree Celsius high on Saturday, making the presentation of such alarming data all the more troubling. Even worse, conditions are expected to bring a humidity of 75 percent as well, creating what’s sure to be a brutal environment for competitors.
Implications for Athletes
The effect of these acute weather events is even more alarming when considering their potential influence on events planned as part of the championships. The women’s marathon is slated to start at 8 am on Sunday, while the men’s marathon follows on Monday at the same time. The 35km race walk starts 8 am local time (9 am AEST) on Saturday. While athletes train and train to compete in these physically demanding events, the oppressive heat becomes extremely dangerous to their overall health and competitive performance.
Coe reiterated the need for athlete welfare given these obstacles. “If we are committed to athlete welfare, then it is inevitable that we are going to have to stage some of our endurance-based events maybe at times of the year that are going to give optimum chances for the athletes, and not leave them in a health or a performance deficit,” he stated.
Global Concerns and Future Changes
Coe’s extreme experiences in Tokyo have compelled him to do something. Now he’s calling for a complete rethinking of the global sports calendar to better adapt to increasing heat. He remarked, “I don’t think it’s any great secret, we do have some heat challenges in Tokyo.” Coe expressed frustration with world leaders’ lack of action on climate change, asserting that “Governments have not stepped up to the plate, and sport is going to have to take some unilateral judgements and decisions here.”
The scenario eerily echoes the decision to move the 2021 Olympic marathon from Tokyo to nearby Sapporo over much of the same type of extreme heat worries. Coe’s comments are indicative of an increasing understanding that climate realities will continue to shape athletic competitions around the globe now and into the future.
Preparing for the Championships
With 44 of Japan’s 47 prefectures issuing heat stroke warnings during August, the urgency for protective measures has never been more critical. Organizers have been consulting with physician and scientific advisory committees to prioritize the safety and health of athletes during every step of the championships. Coe expressed confidence in their capabilities, stating, “I’m very proud to be able to say, with full justification, that we have the most accomplished and the most capable health and science team in any international sport and frankly, any sporting organisation.”
