Quantifying Thermal Stress for Sport Events—The Case of the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo
Open accessAbstract
The effect of weather on sport events is largely discussed in the sports medicine and exercise physiology context. It is important, both for event organizers and for medical staff, to know whether the competition is happening at a time and place with extreme weather or in general not appropriate weather and climatic conditions. In order to find out, whether a place or time is appropriate, two factors should be included when establishing the effect of atmospheric conditions on visitors and athletes. These are the main climatic conditions, based on long term data, and the quantification of extreme events, like heat waves. The present analysis aims at determining what kind of data are required for an appropriate quantification of weather and climate thermal stress. For the analysis, indices like Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) and mPET (modified PET) are applied. The advantage of these indices is the consideration of both, thermo-physiological and meteorological factors to provide results and information that can be used for decision making. In this paper, we analyzed the Tokyo area with regards to the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The results show that this kind of event may not be appropriate for visitors, if it is placed during months with extreme conditions. For Tokyo, this is the period from May to September, when conditions cause strong heat stress to the visitors for the vast majority of hours of the day. A more appropriate time would be the months from November to February or the early morning and the late afternoon hours, when thermally comfortable conditions are much more frequent. The methods that are applied here can quantify the thermal conditions and show limitations and possibilities for specific events and locations. Should the organizers still want to have these competitions organized during these months with extreme conditions, they should promote and propose all possible countermeasures for the spectators, workforce, and athletes.
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Our study represents a methodological advancement over prior studies that have relied solely on retrospective analyses.
“Our study represents a methodological advancement over prior studies that have relied solely on retrospective analyses (e.g. Kakamu et al. 2017; Matzarakis and Fröhlich 2015; Matzarakis et al. 2018).”
From Forecasting thermal stress for sports tourists at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (2024) · cites this paper as Matzarakis et al. 2018
Matzarakis et al. (2018) found thermal stress conditions were heightened during July and August in Tokyo.
“Matzarakis et al. (2018) also conducted retrospective analysis for Tokyo finding thermal stress conditions were heighted during the months in which games were eventually held, July and August.”
From Forecasting thermal stress for sports tourists at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (2024) · cites this paper as Matzarakis et al. (2018)
Destination-based tourists may be unacclimated to local thermal stress conditions.
“may be unacclimated to local thermal stress conditions (e.g. Matzarakis et al. 2018).”
From Forecasting thermal stress for sports tourists at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (2024) · cites this paper as Matzarakis et al. 2018
Increased thermal stress risks for spectators are largely attributable to short acclimation periods and lack of understanding about how to counteract heat.
“Increased risks for spectators are largely attributable to (1) short acclimation periods and (2) lack of understanding about how to counteract heat (e.g., hydration schedules, proper attire) (Matzarakis et al. 2018).”
From Forecasting thermal stress for sports tourists at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (2024) · cites this paper as Matzarakis et al. 2018
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References 24 · Cited by 45
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Höppe, P.R. The physiological equivalent temperature-A universal index for the bioclimatological assessment of the thermal environment. Int. J. Biometeorol. 1999, 4, 71-75.
- Höppe, P.R. Die Energiebilanz des Menschen. Dissertation, Wissenschaftliche Mitteilungen des Meteorologischen Instituts der Universität München 49, Munich, Germany, 1984.
- Fanger, P.O. Thermal Comfort; McGraw-Hill: New York, NY, USA, 1972.
- Matzarakis, A.; Mayer, H. Another kind of environmental stress: Thermal stress. WHO Newsl. 1996, 18, 7-10.
- Authors
- Matzarakis, A., Fröhlich, D., Bermon, S., & Adami, P. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Freiburg (DE)
- Deutscher Wetterdienst (DE)
- Université Côte d'Azur (FR)
- Health & Science Department, IAAF. 6-8, Quai Antoine 1er, BP 359, 98000 Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco
- Corresponding author
- Fröhlich, Dominik
- Venue
- Atmosphere
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2018-12-05
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 479
- ISSN
- 2073-4433 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2902456148
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Atmosphere (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Keywords
- thermal stress (biology), heat stress, physiological equivalent temperature, extreme heat, event scheduling, climatic conditions, thermal comfort, heat waves, countermeasures
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