In a key announcement ahead of the upcoming International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential election, former athlete Sebastian Coe shed light on what he views as a crucial issue that will take precedence if he is elected: the impact of climate change on the global sports calendar. In a recent online call, Coe emphasized that addressing environmental changes would be a top priority on his agenda. He stands among seven contenders vying to take over from current IOC President Thomas Bach.
Coe’s commitment aligns with a chorus of 400 Olympic athletes who have expressed their concerns, urging IOC candidates to prioritize climate change discussions. As the president of World Athletics and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Coe believes there is an essential need for a reassessment of the global sports calendar in the face of climate events.
Among the candidates vying for leadership, there’s a common understanding of the necessity to maintain flexibility in scheduling major events like the Summer Olympics while also championing eco-friendly policies. The forthcoming Summer Olympics scheduled for July 2028 in Los Angeles comes after the area suffered deadly wildfires earlier this year, although no Olympic sites were impacted.
“The reality of the situation is quite stark,” Coe remarked, pointing out the warming oceans and rising global temperatures. He highlighted the pressing challenges posed by human-induced crises such as fires and floods, which threaten to disrupt sporting events worldwide.
A pattern has emerged with every Summer Games from Athens 2004 to Brisbane 2032 being slated for July and August, to align with broadcasting schedules for networks like NBC in the United States. However, events like the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha and the 2023 championships in Budapest have demonstrated the challenges athletes face due to extreme heat conditions.
To mitigate such concerns at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, marathons were strategically relocated to Sapporo to dodge the intense heat similar to that of Qatar, despite races being conducted at midnight hours. Coe emphasized the widespread nature of the issue, transcending regions like the Gulf and Africa.
When asked about the influence of Olympic stakeholders raising these alarms, Coe candidly expressed doubt about whether their concerns were being heeded at present. Highlighting a broader issue, he pointed to a retreat by governments worldwide in fulfilling commitments to curb climate change effects.
Looking forward, Coe noted that the 2036 Summer Olympics might not necessarily fall during the conventional July to August window. This speculation comes amid a new $3 billion broadcast agreement between NBC’s parent company, Comcast, and the IOC, with ongoing discussions about potential Olympics locations, which include Qatar, Hungary, and India.
