Now that the 2016 Olympic Games are being held, during which all participants will give their all to get a medal, a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet has begun to worry us, since it rebels that climate change could end the Olympics, at least, those we know today.
The global mean temperature will continue to rise, so according to the model the researchers created, only eight cities outside Western Europe could host this event for the 2085.
And this is something that has its logic. How many times have you been told or heard that with high temperatures you can't exercise unless you take plenty of water or energy drinks? Many, right? In addition, depending on how hot it is, the ideal is not to practice any type of sport, as we could put our health at risk.
Well, those in charge of organizing this event have to be certain that they will not be forced to cancel it due to the high temperatures, something that can undoubtedly happen much sooner than we imagine.
The end of the Olympics?
The research authors used temperature and humidity data to predict which cities could host outdoor Olympic events during the summer. To do this, they used the marathon as a test, since it is the one that requires greater resistance. The result was that only one 70% of the competitors completed qualifying trials for the US Olympic Marathon Team in Los Angeles, California.
To protect the participants, cities are sought that are less than 1,6 km above sea level to avoid altitude sickness, in the Northern Hemisphere since it is where 90% of the population lives, and that have a population of at least 600.000 people. Still, climate change will force us all to change our routines.
You can read the study here (In English).