Climate Change Putting Many Cities Out of Contention for Hosting Olympics

Looking back at the Paris Summer Olympics, it is easy to see how the weather patterns can significantly impact the Games. The city saw a wide array of conditions throughout the course of the competition, including a rainy opening ceremony, searing heat, and more. This year's experience highlights that there is no certainty with the weather when planning for the Olympics. As the attention turns toward future potential hosts of the Games, some cities are already showing that they will be unable to play home to the summer competition.

Understanding Heat Stress Measurements

According to an analysis from science and data-focused nonprofit group CarbonPlan, several of the world's most populous cities will not be able to host the Summer Games based on weather alone. The measurement of heat stress takes into account temperatures, the angle of the sun, windspeed, humidity levels, and cloud cover. CarbonPlan's data indicates that all of the major cities in the eastern half of the U.S. will eclipse the 82.1-degree heat stress limit by the year 2050. This is the measurement in which experts advise canceling outdoor sporting events.

Not only are the athletes vulnerable to the impacts of heat but spectators can also suffer at the hands of the weather. This is particularly true for tourists who visit from cooler climates and may not be acclimated to the weather of the host city.

When looking at heat stress levels, the humid states surrounding the Gulf of Mexico would easily exceed the recommended limit. When following these recommendations, cities such as Tampa, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Houston would be out of contention as a host.

A large portion of eastern China and much of Southeast Asia would also fall above the recognized healthy limits. This includes major Asian metropolitan areas such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong.

As a result of these dire climate predictions, many organizers of the Olympics are advocating to push the timing of the Summer Games either earlier or later. This is not without precedent. For example, the 2000 Sydney Games were held in September and October to better coincide with the Southern Hemisphere's flipped seasons. Likewise, the Rio de Janeiro Games of 2016 were contested in August when the mercury hovered around 70 degrees.

What cities could contend as leading host possibilities? With so many cities off the table due to the weather, the attention is turning to areas that feature naturally cooler conditions during the summer. This puts cities such as London and Stockholm in contention. Additionally, the cities located in the higher elevations of South America are also solid possibilities.

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