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Fears Grow Over Heat Dangers at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Henry Ridgwell

   TOKYO - There are growing concerns that the heat and humidity at the
   Tokyo Olympics next summer may pose a danger to athletes. The Japanese
   capital, one of the biggest and most densely populated cities in the
   world, regularly sees summer temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius (95
   degrees Fahrenheit), with humidity exceeding 80% and strong sunshine.

   Earlier this month, a worker at an Olympic construction site in the
   city died from heat stroke.

   Across the country, a heat wave beginning in late July killed at least
   57 people.

   George Havenith, an expert on the effects of temperature and climate on
   athletes at Britain's Loughborough University, says the combination of
   heat and humidity could prove dangerous.

   "When it gets warmer, of course the skin gets warmer and doesn't lose
   that much heat to the environment and the sweat evaporation then is the
   main factor for cooling," he said. "Now if we also push up the humidity
   as it would happen in Tokyo, that means that that sweat evaporation
   gets even more difficult. So it gets more and more difficult to lose
   the heat."

   Heat stroke

   Heat stroke is a big danger, especially for endurance events, adds
   Havenith.

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