Athletes warn ‘hottest Games on record’ could threaten lives at Paris Olympics

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Paris 2024 Olympics could become the hottest Games on record, with athletes warning that extreme heat may threaten their lives
• A report titled Rings of Fire: Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics highlights the escalating heat risks, comparing it to the 2021 Tokyo Games where temperatures exceeded 34°C with high humidity

🔭 The context: Since Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924, annual temperatures in the city have risen by 1.8°C
• The frequency and intensity of heatwaves in Paris have increased, with the city experiencing 50 heatwaves since 1947
• During the 2003 heatwave in July and August, over 14,000 excess deaths were recorded in France

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The rising temperatures due to climate change pose significant health risks to athletes and the general population
• The increased frequency of extreme heat events underscores the urgent need for global action on climate change to protect lives and ensure the safety of future sporting events

⏭️ What's next: The International Olympic Committee has proposed mitigation measures to safeguard athletes' health, but acknowledges that extreme heat remains a growing problem
• Athletes and officials are calling for greater awareness and action on the underlying causes of rising temperatures

💬 One quote: “If the planet continues to warm, sports as we know and love are at risk,” said Emma Pocock, CEO of FrontRunners

📈 One stat: Annual temperatures in Paris have warmed by 1.8°C since 1924

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