COP27: Global warming wreaking havoc on sporting activities

Countries are being forced to invest in expensive technologies to track the quality of the air and keep sports facilities cool to enhance the performance of sportsmen and women.

So, what is the correlation between climate change and athletics? 

Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei addressed the matter during the ongoing Climate change conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

"Global warming is having a negative impact on the racing tracks, racecourses and even the football fields." he said.

Kenya, which is known for its champions in long distance races, understands the effects of global warming.

"Athletes need to train in high altitude camps to build enduring lungs and help them improve their air holding capacity."

The double crisis of air pollution and rising temperatures are both affecting the enduring spirit of many athletes.

Tuwei said this has led to the need to install air quality sensors to monitor air quality in Kenya.

AK has so far installed the system at the Kasarani stadium in Kenya with plans to install more gadgets at Nyayo Stadium, Iten and Nyahururu high altitude training camps, an undertaking that will cost millions of shillings.

There is an expanding acknowledgment of the connection between sport and climate change. For example, it has been estimated that the 2016 Rio Olympics released 3.6 million tons of carbon dioxide, while the 2018 Russia World Cup released 2.16 million tons.

Sport is also a heavy polluter of the environment, especially during the construction of stadia and sports centers. Air quality is also affecting player participation in tournaments. 

In 2018, the high temperatures forced the US Open tennis tournament organizers to offer a “heat-break” to athletes. During the 2020 Australian Open, poor air quality caused by wildfires forced some tennis players to withdraw from the tournament. Though the jury is out on how bad the situation is , there is one consensus that like in any other sector, global warming is wreaking the World of sports.