Climate Change & the Olympics: Competing with Heat

The document examines how rising temperatures and worsening air quality in Japan threaten the health and performance of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, specifically highlighting the risk of exertional heat stroke and the impact of ground-level ozone. It provides data on Tokyo's warming trend since 1964 and lists specific sports at high risk, such as the marathon and triathlon. Mitigation efforts include relocating the marathon to Sapporo, implementing the 'Tokyo 2020 Cooling Project', and athlete acclimatization.

• Tokyo's climate has warmed significantly since the 1964 Olympics, with average temperatures in July and August increasing by 2.7°F and the number of days exceeding 95°F (35°C) increasing by 8 days.
• Climate change increases the risk of heat-related illnesses for athletes, particularly exertional heat stroke, which can be fatal without cooling interventions. Paralympic athletes with spinal cord injuries may face additional challenges due to impaired thermoregulation.
• Extreme heat negatively impacts air quality by creating ground-level ozone and trapping pollutants, which can cause respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath for athletes.
• Certain sports are identified as having a high risk of heat illness based on factors like duration, physicality, and surface temperature; these include the marathon, triathlon, and tennis.
• To mitigate heat risks, organizers relocated the marathon to Sapporo, launched the 'Tokyo 2020 Cooling Project' featuring mist sprays and shaded areas, and encouraged pre- and post-cooling interventions.

APA

Vanos, J., Hosokawa, Y., & Lopez, R. M. (2021). Climate Change & the Olympics: Competing with Heat. Climate Central. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/climate-change-the-olympics-competing-with-heat

Chicago

Vanos, Jennifer, Yuri Hosokawa, and Rebecca M. Lopez. Climate Change & the Olympics: Competing with Heat. Climate Central, 2021. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/climate-change-the-olympics-competing-with-heat.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Vanos |first1=Jennifer |last2=Hosokawa |first2=Yuri |last3=Lopez |first3=Rebecca M. |title=Climate Change & the Olympics: Competing with Heat |publisher=Climate Central |date=21 July 2021 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/climate-change-the-olympics-competing-with-heat |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vanos2021climate, author = {Vanos, Jennifer and Hosokawa, Yuri and Lopez, Rebecca M.}, title = {{Climate Change \& the Olympics: Competing with Heat}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/climate-change-the-olympics-competing-with-heat}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }