Rising summer temperatures worldwide could lead to a major rethink about when major sporting events are held, Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, said on Sunday after another brutal day for athletes in the men's marathon.
The marathons and race walk events were shifted from Tokyo to the supposedly-cooler city of Sapporo but there was little relief, with scorching temperatures affecting the athletes even after early-morning starts.
Heat and humidity was an issue in Tokyo, where the endurance athletes in particular — even those well-used to training in hot climates — found it extremely tough. "They were difficult conditions and we could well be confronting the same temperatures in Paris in 2024," Coe said.