Tokyo heatwave prompts fears for 2020 Olympics

More than 12 dead as temperatures soar above 40 deg C for first time since 2013

Electrical fans out in force during a heat wave at the construction site of the main stadium of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Experts have warned of the risk of heatstroke at the Games, and organisers are taking the issue seriously as they consider a raft
Electrical fans out in force during a heat wave at the construction site of the main stadium of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Experts have warned of the risk of heatstroke at the Games, and organisers are taking the issue seriously as they consider a raft of countermeasures to battle the extreme heat. PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO • As the two-year mark approaches for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japan is being scorched by an intense heatwave that has prompted fears of similar extreme weather when the sporting showpiece takes place in the country.

More than a dozen people have died as temperatures soared above 40 deg C for the first time since 2013, and the thermometer hit 43 deg C during an Olympic Stadium media tour yesterday.

The opening ceremony will be held at the venue on July 24, 2020, a time of year when Tokyo records average temperatures of around 25 deg C, which combined with severe humidity will create tough conditions for athletes and spectators alike.

Earlier this year, experts warned of the risks of heatstroke at the Games, which run until Aug 9, with conditions reaching levels at which sporting activities would normally be halted.

The issue is one Tokyo 2020 organisers are taking seriously as they consider a raft of countermeasures to battle the extreme heat.

These include increased shelter and cooling fans provided for spectators, and the installation of a "Wet Bulb Globe Temperature" device designed to provide constant feedback to assess levels of heat stress at each venue.

The data provided will help organisers adjust conditions for supporters depending on the weather.

The scheduling of events, which was expected to be announced late yesterday following an International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting with Games organisers in Lausanne, will also be designed with the protection of athletes and supporters in mind.

Tokyo 2020 organisers also told Reuters that they were looking to establish guidelines on whether a scheduled event would be allowed to go ahead if they were worried by the danger posed of extreme temperatures.

Speaking at the stadium media tour, officials from the Japan Sports Council (JSC) said solutions for tackling heat would be a priority for the Olympic Games.

While beams for the stadium's inner roof - made with wood supplied from all 47 prefectures - are meant to project warmth and hospitality, JSC official Keiji Kato explained they were also designed to circulate air to keep spectators cool. Mist fans would also be installed.

While the Japanese have a long-standing love affair with marathons, spectators will likely need to wake up very early to watch the races in Tokyo, with organisers likely to schedule a dawn start for safety reasons.

But despite the heat, there were still several joggers yesterday braving the conditions to run the circuit around Tokyo's Imperial Palace, with the most committed of them admitting they had struggled.

"I have been running (this route) for the past five years, but for the first time, I could not complete the track both last week and this week," Mr Tatsuro Abe, 44, told Reuters. "It has been truly intense this time round."

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 19, 2018, with the headline Tokyo heatwave prompts fears for 2020 Olympics. Subscribe