September 19 – The Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 will be staged in what could be the hottest weather for the event in 120 years, with temperatures reaching 38°C and with Tokyo’s humidity at 71% the temperature would actually feel like 62°C, according to the U.S. National Weather Service’s Heat Index calculator.
A report by Bloomberg highlights the risks to athletes and fans of the high temperatures. Already a number of climate and sports medicine experts have advised against holding the Games at this time.
Tokyo’s August average high and humidity this year generated a heat index of 44°C, according to the U.S. National Weather Service, a temperature that is deemed to be in the”danger” zone for prolonged exposure or strenuous activity in the US.
The hottest Olympic marathon on record was in 1900 when half the runners withdrew due to heat exhaustion. Temperatures were estimated between 35°C and 39°C.
While the Bloomberg report focuses on the heat faced by distance runners, there would clearly be an issue for footballers expected to play 90 minutes. However, not all football matches would be played in Tokyo.
When Tokyo staged the games in 1964 they were held in October when the average highs are around 32°C. Other Summer Olympic games have also been moved to later times in the year: Mexico in October 1968; Seoul in September/October in 2000; Sydney in September/October in 2000.
FIFA’s executive committee meets October 2-3 and will consider a proposal to move the Qatar 2022 World Cup out of the hot summer months for the safety of the players and fans.
Doha, Qatar, bid for the 2020 Olympic Games but didn’t make the shortlist of candidates. It was proposing a Games between September 20 and October 20. Tokyo is proposing July 24 to August 9. The other losing candidates, Istanbul and Madrid, both proposed August 7 to 23.
The International Olympic Committee said the preferred period for the Games were between July 15 and August 31 in its original advice to bidders, though it said it would consider applications outside those dates.
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