The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the sporting event of the year. Over eleven thousand athletes from two hundred and five countries compete in three hundred and thirty-nine events; it is a place where history was made. Held amidst a pandemic, this sporting event was far from effortless to hold. Though COVID was not the only setback, climate change played a significant role in the Olympics, especially towards athlete's health.
Since the event started, one thing has been unbearable, the heat. This Olympics is the hottest on record. According to scientists, the average annual temperature in Tokyo "has increased by 2.86 degrees Celsius since 1900, more than three times as fast as the world's average." With average temperatures of 30 - 31 degrees celsius, the situation is worrisome, causing athlete's to fear their health and their lives.
Extreme heat and humidity pose significant health concerns for athletes. Not only does it increase the body's core temperature, but it also causes dehydration. Hyperthermia (increased body temperature) causes muscle endurance to drop, meaning that the muscle's ability to contract repeatedly over a long period decreases. High core temperatures may also cause the body to shift energy production mechanisms from aerobic to anaerobic; this causes the body to go through muscle energy stores rapidly. Dehydration occurs long before the athlete realizes it or before the cramps come. Athletes lose 2-8% of their body weight during high-intensity exercise, and the rate of fluid absorption from the intestines simply cannot keep up with this rate of weight loss. Dehydration causes a decrease in VO2max, which means the body cannot effectively use oxygen to provide energy. These health issues were a severe problem in the recent Olympics.
Beach volleyball, cycling, athletics, hockey, marathon swimming, tennis, triathlon, modern pentathlon, rugby, and rowing were the highest risk events for heat-related injuries due to their outdoors nature. Events had to be relocated and held at different times to avoid the scorching heat, especially in endurance events. The race walk and marathon were relocated 800km north to Hokkaido, which tends to be cooler, but sadly the island was experiencing the worst heatwave in ninety-seven years.
Kristian Blummenfelt, a Norwegian athlete, won the Men's triathlon with a lead of 11 seconds. Shortly after, he was seen vomiting and collapsing to the floor. He was then carted away on a wheelchair though he was not the only one. It is not unlikely for athletes to collapse after a gruesome event in any condition, though Tokyo's extreme conditions were a definite factor. The triathlon was moved earlier to avoid excruciating heats. Nevertheless, the water temperature was at a whopping 30 degrees celsius. Though some international triathlon organization guidelines require the swimming portion to be decreased in the case of extreme heat, the entire 1500m distance went ahead in Tokyo. Nonetheless, the triathlon was far from the only competition affected.
Tennis, a sport greatly affected by climate change. Danil Medvedev went so far and asked the umpire of his match, "If I die, will the International Tennis Federation take responsibility?" adding, "I can finish this match, but I can die." when asked if he could still play. Paula Badosam left the court in a wheelchair during her quarterfinal match due to a heat stroke. Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas retired mid-match due to heat exhaustion. Temperatures got so bad that athletes started lobbying the IOC. This included the number one tennis player Nikola Djokovic. He said the Tokyo 2020 Olympics conditions were far worse than anything he had experienced in his 20-year career.
Paula Badosam's heatstroke may not be severe, but exertional heatstroke is one of the leading causes of death in athletes. This phenomenon happens once strenuous exercise, usually in hot and humid conditions, pushes core body temperatures to 40 degrees Celsius. On the far side, sweating and alternative cooling techniques are inadequate, and organ functions begin to collapse. However, athletes can adapt to a certain point. Paul Hough, a sports scientist at Oxford Brookes University, stated that heat stress comes in three stages: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Heat cramps may affect the athlete's overall performance as it makes them lightheaded and dizzy. Heat exhaustion occurs when an athlete's energy is so low that they are forced to recede. Lastly, heatstroke, which may be deadly if now no longer handled swiftly via means of ice-jackets, cold baths, and slush drinks – all of that are in use in Tokyo.
In conclusion, climate change posed real threats to athlete's health in the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympics. With temperatures going as high as 40 degrees celsius and averaging 31 degrees celsius, this Olympic event was the hottest on record. All athletes suffered under the excruciating heat. Brazil's Bruno Schmidt stated that "The first two weeks here are one of the hottest that I had in my life, believe it or not." The extreme heat and humidity in Tokyo pose serious health concerns for athletes. Not only does it increase the body's core temperature, but it also causes dehydration. It makes the body vulnerable to heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and, worst, heat strokes. Though the International Olympic Committee has provided measurements against the heat, athletes take a risk every time they join an outdoor event. Remember, climate change is a real problem, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is a testament to this fact.
Works Cited
CNN, George Ramsay. “Sweltering Temperatures at Tokyo Olympics Could Be a ‘Danger-Zone’ for Athletes, Report Warns.” CNN, 7 June 2021, edition.cnn.com/2021/05/25/sport/olympics-heat-climate-change-spt-intl/index.html. Accessed 25 Aug. 2021.
Ferrer, Marthe de. “Has Climate Change Made Tokyo 2020 the Hottest Olympics in History?” Euronews, 3 Aug. 2021, www.euronews.com/green/2021/08/03/tokyo-2020-how-the-climate-crisis-has-taken-centre-stage-at-one-of-the-hottest-olympics-on. Accessed 25 Aug. 2021. #olympics #sports #weather
Hart, Robert. “As Record Heat Threatens Tokyo Olympics, Here’s What Climate Change Means for Future Sporting Events.” Forbes, www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/07/20/as-record-heat-threatens-tokyo-olympics-heres-what-climate-change-means-for-future-sporting-events/?sh=692539fa4fb2. Accessed 25 Aug. 2021.
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