World Athletics Chief Warns of Heat Challenges Ahead of Tokyo Championships

TDT | Manama

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World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has admitted that extreme heat will be a major challenge for athletes at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, set to begin this Saturday.

Japan is currently experiencing record-breaking temperatures. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the country’s average temperature between June and August was 2.36°C above the normal level—making it the hottest summer since records began in 1898. This marks the third year in a row of record summer heat.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Coe said temperatures, which reached 33°C that day, remain a concern.
"I don’t think it’s any great secret, we do have some heat challenges in Tokyo," Coe noted, recalling similar issues during the 2021 Olympics.

During the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics, marathon and race walk events were moved to the cooler city of Sapporo to protect athletes. However, for the World Championships, these events will remain in Tokyo.

Coe added that sports leaders are increasingly worried about the impact of climate change on global competitions.
"These are not transient, they’re here to stay," he said. "Governments have not stepped up to the plate, and sport may have to take unilateral decisions if we are truly committed to athlete welfare."

The championships, returning to Tokyo four years after the Olympics, are expected to test athletes not only on performance but also endurance under extreme heat.