The Olympics are approaching a danger zone of extreme heat

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Olympic athletes face another health risk, extreme heat. The summer Olympics this year are expected to be the hottest for decades. Even the most fit athletes could be at risk of heatstroke or illness if temperatures rise to 30° Celsius (close to 90° Fahrenheit). The oppressive humidity will also be a factor, as it can affect the body's ability regulate its temperature through sweating.

The athletes have attempted to adjust to the changing weather conditions before the games. According to The Washington Post, Team USA even took inspiration form the way that soldiers in the US are prepared for deployment to the desert. Training might involve wearing a sweatshirt or beanie when working out in the summer heat. According to the CBC, Canada's women's rowing squad trained indoors and heated up to 35 degrees Celsius in the dome at the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (Victoria).

The conditions for athletes training are harsh and dangerous. The Washington Post points this out:

The USOPC must provide protection for athletes against heat stroke, dehydration, and other conditions that can be caused by excessive exercise. These conditions are a serious risk to elite athletes. Their ability to endure discomfort and still compete is what separates them from other athletes. Extreme heat can make such determination life-threatening.

Human-caused climate changes are causing heatwaves and heat-related diseases to increase. Last year in Tokyo, 4,759 people needed emergency transport due to heat illness. This is thousands more than the 905 people who needed emergency transportation in the same period of 2008 (Reuters provides useful data visualizations that show the extent of the problem).

Similar trends can be seen in the US. Extreme temperatures in the Pacific Northwest caused a significant increase in emergency room visits last month. Late June heatwave disrupted Olympic trials in Eugene (Oregon), where competitions were delayed. Taliyah Brooks, a septathlete, fainted during the javelin throw. She had to be lifted off the field by a wheelchair.

Some events were moved this year from Tokyo, Japan to Sapporo. There are usually cooler temperatures there. Experts warn that athletes need to be ready for higher temperatures in the future.

Melissa Wilson, a British Olympic rower, stated that "I believe we're definitely approaching a danger zone" in a report by British Association for Sustainable Sport about how heat might affect the 2021 Olympics. According to the report, three rowers had been treated for heat exhaustion at the Tokyo trials in 2019. It's an awful moment to see athletes cross the line. Their bodies fall back in exhaustion and then they don't rise up.