This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
Published on December 5, 2019, Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers have taken steps to mitigate the risks associated with the sweltering summer heat in Tokyo. The extreme temperatures have raised concerns over the health and safety of athletes, volunteers, and spectators.
As a result, the start times for the triathlon and equestrian cross-country events have been rescheduled. The men's and women's individual triathlon will now start at 6:30 am, while the mixed team relay will begin at 7:30 am. The cross-country part of the equestrian competition will also start between 7:30 am and 8:00 am.
These changes come after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) moved the marathon and race-walking events to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido due to heat concerns. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike had initially expressed opposition but later offered her support for the rescheduling.
Despite widespread praise for their preparations, Tokyo 2020 organisers have faced challenges related to extreme summer heat and poor water quality during test events. In August, a French triathlete was hospitalised with suspected heatstroke, and the swimming section of a paratriathlon test event was cancelled due to high levels of bacteria in the water.
