This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
The world athletics championships in Doha, Qatar, have begun, but the real challenge for some competitors has been the sweltering Qatari heat.
With daytime temperatures hovering around 38 degrees Celsius and suffocating humidity, the Doha weather has been a cause for concern in some events.
As a result, athletes competing in the marathon and walking races will begin their events in the middle of the night to minimize the heat's harmful effects.
Although the heat is less of a threat to athletes competing inside the Khalifa International Stadium, where temperatures are kept at around 21 degrees with the help of a cooling system, they have still had to adjust their training because they practice at an outdoor facility.
"We are from a hot climate as well, but nothing to compare with this," said Bahamian coach Ronald Cartwright, as quoted by Reuters.
"Here you walk outside and it's like somebody put a heater on you. I guess that is why they are doing it at night," he added.
Athletics officials have pledged additional medical and safety measures for marathon runners and race walkers.
The IAAF, the global governing body of athletics, said the women's marathon, scheduled to start at midnight on Friday, would go ahead as planned as temperatures would be at or below 30 degrees.
Track athletes competing inside the stadium said it was unlikely that the heat would significantly affect their performances, but conceded that practices have been especially draining.
Shot putter Ryan Crouser, the 2016 Olympic champion, said he has had to heat up his shots to around 38 degrees Celsius to prevent them from becoming wet during practices in the sizzling heat and high humidity.
"The shot is far below the dew point, the instant you take it out, it's just soaking wet and it's dripping water," Crouser said. "It's worse than if it was pouring down rain… We've been fighting this a little bit."
