- In these Olympic cities, it's too hot for another summer games in 2050
The weather has always been a concern for Olympic hosts. Even at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens, strong wind and heavy rain prevented the rowing and sailing competitions from taking place. The participants in the recently concluded Summer Games in Paris also had to deal with the elements at times. The opening ceremony two weeks ago was marked by heavy rain, followed by intense heat, before a week of pleasant summer weather delighted athletes, spectators, and organizers.
Heat makes Olympics impossible in many places
While it was temporarily unpleasant in Paris due to rain or heat for all involved, the city would still be a suitable venue for such sporting events in the future. Although the Seine metropolis is also feeling the effects of global warming, it is expected to remain below the threshold of health-endangering heat in the next few decades, according to US broadcaster CNN. Other former Olympic hosts fare worse. In nearly half of them, it could be too hot for the Summer Olympics by 2050 due to global warming.
"Most cities in the world will not be able to host the Games in the summer in the coming decades because they will exceed the threshold of safe moist heat," CNN reports, citing data from the non-profit organization Carbon Plan, which develops publicly accessible climate analyses. "Hosting the Summer Games in these cities would pose a significant health risk to the athletes."
Within the US, heat stress is expected to exceed the recommended limit of 82.1 degrees Fahrenheit (27.8 degrees Celsius) for canceling sports events in almost all eastern cities by 2050. Therefore, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta would not be possible there in 2050.
Extreme heat poses a serious health risk to athletes. It can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. Spectators, especially those traveling from cooler climates, are also at risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), heat stress is the main cause of weather-related deaths and can exacerbate underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental illness, and asthma, and increase the risk of accidents.
"Extreme heat could endanger the lives of athletes"
Carbon Plan's assessment of heat stress was based on the "Wet Bulb Globe Temperature" (WBGT) index, which takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and other factors and is considered the gold standard for assessing the impact of heat on the human body.
"We already know that extreme heat is a silent killer in the general population, and that it can be risky for athletes even with prior preparation and intervention," warned Australian race walker Rhydian Cowley before the Paris Games. "I am therefore very concerned that extreme heat during competitions could endanger the lives of athletes."
Cowleys' Warning Was No Coincidence: The Last Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo Were the Hottest on Record. During Some Competitions, the Heat Stress Was Over 31.5 Degrees Celsius, Far Exceeding the Safety Limit. About One in 100 Athletes in the Japanese Capital Suffered Heat-Related Illnesses. However, No Athletes Needed to Be Hospitalized, Thanks in Part to the Host's Good Preparation. The Organizers Moved the Marathon and Race Walking Events to the Cooler, Mountainous City of Sapporo.
Other Hosts Have Aligned the Timing of the Event with the Climate in the Past. Sydney Hosted the Games in 2000 in September and October, Which is Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics Were Held in August, When Pleasant Winter Temperatures Around 20 Degrees Celsius Prevail in the Brazilian City.
The Next Olympic Summer Games Will Be Held in 2028 in Los Angeles, Where the Pacific Ocean Keeps Temperatures at Tolerable Levels. The City of Angels, Like Paris Before It, Will Host the Games for the Third Time. Given Global Warming, Tokyo or Atlanta May Not Reach This Number. See the Photo Gallery Above to Find Out Which Former Hosts Will Likely Not Host the Olympic Summer Games Again.
Paris, despite experiencing challenging weather conditions during the Summer Games, is expected to remain a suitable venue for future Olympic events due to its predicted ability to avoid health-endangering heat levels. Conversely, cities like Atlanta may no longer be capable of hosting the Summer Olympics by 2050 due to the escalating heat stress caused by global warming.
