Leading sports ecologists believe that the climate crisis is forcing organisers to face uncomfortable truths.

As temperatures rise, golf courses slide into the ocean, alpine resorts are flooded, and football fields have been flooded. Wildfire smoke chokes athletes.

As temperatures rise, some sports have implemented extreme heat protocols. Meanwhile, unseasonal heavy rains caused the pollution in the Seine River that led to a postponement of the men's Triathlon on Tuesday.

Mark Adams, IOC spokesperson on Tuesday, said that "Climate Change" is having a clear effect.

We have to adapt and live with the reality we are given. "You have to make the best of what's in front you," as they say.

The critics say that extravaganzas such as the Olympics in Paris which is expected to welcome 14 million people, will contribute to climate changes through their massive carbon footprint.

Madeleine Orr, author and sports ecologist, said that "these competitions should be smaller." It's the spectators, not the athletes who are causing the problem.

These are the conversations that I have had with the International Olympic Committee. We focused on local populations for ticketing, and reduced the size of the venues.

Some people will squirm when they hear that.

BENEFITS ECONOMIC

The other end of the spectrum is the money.

The Paris Games will generate between $7.27 and $12.04 Billion in economic benefit for the area.

Paris' organising committee has set the goal of halving their carbon footprint compared with previous editions. This excludes Tokyo, where COVID-19 banned spectators.

Paris has taken a number of steps to accomplish this. However, its calculations estimate that the carbon footprint of Paris still stands at 1,58 million tons CO2 equivalent.

Comparatively, one ton CO2 equals 138 meals based on meat or an entire flight between Paris and New York.

Orr's book, "Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Changing Sport", was released in May.

It'll be a great environment for the athletes. The cameras will see a large crowd. "It won't just be a tourist spectacle."

The future of the Games is also at stake.

Orr stated that "if we are talking about winter sports (climate changes) is an existence crisis."

If we are talking about summer sports, then we still have a window for adaptation. There's a problem with the lack of attention.

The IOC disagrees.

The "reduce compensate influence" commitment to climate action includes an aim of 50% carbon emission reduction by 2030. It also requires compensating over 100% of residual emissions, and encouraging fans and stakeholders to take climate-change actions.

"DRAMATIC IMPACT"

The IOC is considering rotating the Winter Games between a pool of permanent host countries that have the reliable climate required for the Olympics.

Thomas Bach, IOC president in October last year, said: "We must act very fast to deal with this dramatic impact on winter sports of climate change." By mid-century there will be only 10-12 countries that can host snow events.

Climate change is affecting athletes, as 75% of them reported that their training or competition has been adversely affected.

Coe stated last year that "some countries within our federation will likely not exist in the next twenty years due to rising sea levels."

Heat could be a problem at the Paris endurance races, especially once Thursday's athletics begins.

The World Championships Marathons in Doha, 2019 began at midnight in order to avoid the scorching heat of the Middle East. Despite this, 46 runners failed to finish.

Orr stated that heat is a danger to sports around the globe and an "existential crises" in India Pakistan Bangladesh and certain parts of China.

Uncontrolled wildfires

North America has also been hit hard. Wildfires burning uncontrollably in western Canada have forced thousands to evacuate.

Smoke from North American fires caused havoc in the past few years. Major League Baseball, a National Women's Soccer League game, and an indoor WNBA match were all postponed to protect fans and players.

Christopher Blevins said that checking the air quality on his smartphone has become a routine for him.

The American athlete spokeswoman for environmental group Protect our Winters said, "There is usually a fire on the West Coast. As an endurance athlete the air quality obviously matters."

He added, "It is just a different reality." It's not only for sports. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors can go on a walk in a park.

Jennifer Casson, a Canadian rower who lives on Vancouver Island and trains under a "pocalyptic red" sky due to wildfires in Canada, recalls the dense algae bloom that covered Quamichan Lake. She could barely see the oar beneath the water.

Casson is competing at her second Olympics, in Paris.

It's extremely hot and it is hard to breathe.

(source: Reuters)