From the Track to the Streets: Climate Change Challenges Us All! Read this perspective!

Dear Friends,

 

I live in a tropical climate characterized by warm temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. Our nights from October to February are cooler, while the days from March to June can exceed 40°C. Thanks to climate change, we sometimes experience temperatures of 45°C and above! Most of the time, our work is conducted under a roof in a sophisticated environment.

 

Now, let’s review this scenario from the perspective of a player. According to Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory, the player is born with kinesthetic intelligence, also known as bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, which refers to the ability to use one's body effectively and with a high degree of skill. Individuals with strong kinesthetic intelligence are often proficient in physical activities such as sports, dance, acting, or anything that requires fine motor coordination.

 

Let’s consider the situation of a top athlete (high kinesthetic skills) born in this region, who, after training intensively for 14 to 15 years—practicing 14 to 15 hours a day—finds themselves competing in a climate that is the exact opposite. Can you imagine the acclimatization (natural environment) issues they would face though they went through acclimation (artificial environment setup for training)? 

 

The body may struggle to regulate temperature, and moving from a low-altitude to a high-altitude environment (or vice versa) can affect breathing and stamina. Muscle fatigue, recovery time, and psychological stress are just a few of the many factors that could influence their performance.

 

This is the reality for every Olympics, especially for the Paris Olympics. Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics compete against the world's toughest opponents, the clock, the record books, and against increasingly extreme heat. You can imagine police officers cooling off under “misters” (which release water droplets into the hot air) at various locations around the venue! Consider the sequence of events this year: rain soaked the opening ceremony, followed by an extensive heat wave across France that reached 35°C, a temperature more typical of tropical regions!

 

Let’s reflect on the Tokyo Olympics held in 2020, which recorded the highest temperature of 32°C—considered the hottest Olympics in history. More than 110 athletes suffered from heat-related issues (Vox.com, Aug 9, 2024).

 

The next Olympics are set to be held in Los Angeles, USA. Today, the Olympics are not just a sporting event; they represent a livelihood for many, a part of sports tourism, and a business. So why not shift the Olympics to winter? Doing so could affect sponsorships, as summer holidays worldwide boost viewership.

 

Climate change must increasingly be seen as an existential threat to sport. It’s not just the Olympics at risk; many livelihoods are also on the line. For example, the impact of heat stress on informal sector women in India or other tropical countries is exceptionally high. These women work 7 to 9 hours daily under direct sunlight. You can imagine this segment's slow productivity and income loss.

 

Heatwaves Don’t Discriminate: From Gold Medals to Daily Wages! What do we have to raise to combat this discrimination?

 

Ravi Saripalle