Here are 5 ways that climate change is affecting sports around the world

The Paris Olympics brought together athletes from across the globe to compete against the world’s greatest. But they are also racing against another, increasingly visible challenger: climate change.

As climate change continues to raise average temperatures, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. This increases the likelihood that such events will overlap with and significantly disrupt sporting events worldwide.

The impacts of climate change go beyond forcing us to adapt how we watch, play and consume global sporting events – the consequences to human health and even life could be devastating.

By 2050, climate change will lead to 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses, according to the World Economic Forum's report 'Quantifying the Impact of Climate Change on Human Health'.

From running marathons at night to moving annual events to different seasons, here are some ways that sports are racing to stay ahead of climate change impacts.

As the world’s greatest athletes were going for gold, the planet was also breaking records. Last year was the hottest year on record, with 2024 increasingly likely to overtake this.

Since Paris last hosted the Olympics 100 years ago, the city has warmed 3.1°C during the July-August Olympics period. As a result, the organizing committees and the competitors themselves have had to confront and adapt to the realities of extreme heat and its health impacts.

In the face of these mounting challenges, here are some of the ways the Paris 2024 Games tried to optimize performance while keeping everyone safe:

Since the first race in 1903, the bulk of the Tour de France has ridden through 23 days of July. However, as temperatures continue to rise, this tradition may have to shift gears and reroute out of July into a cooler month.

On the hottest days of the men’s race this year, temperatures soared to near 40℃. Extreme sports in extreme weather puts huge pressure on the human body to remain regulated – many cyclists experience heat-related illnesses as a result.

From spraying water on melting road surfaces – of which the asphalt reached up to 140°C this July – and introducing extra feed zones, the high temperatures forced the Tour de France organizers to take action this year.

The Union Cycliste Internationale has an extreme weather protocol to guide race organizers in responding to these intense weather events. As temperatures continue to rise, larger structural changes will need to happen – such as moving the race from July – to ensure the riders' safety and the event's future.

From the Swiss Alps to the Rocky Mountains, ski resorts across the globe are grappling with the impacts of climate change. As temperatures continue to rise, snowfall is melting at an alarming pace – a recent study has found that by 2100, one in eight ski resorts worldwide could have no snow.

But this isn’t a concept of the future, resorts are suffering now. Multiple ski resorts were forced to close as slopes turned green, melting under unprecedented heat. The Alps experienced record high temperatures over Christmas and New Year – soaring to 20.9°C in northwest Switzerland.

These snow-less slopes don’t just impact individual resorts – the effects are felt across whole towns whose economies depend on ski tourism.

From investing more in bike trails, climbing routes and walking paths to using artificial snow, the tourism sector in these areas is having to shift and adapt to mounting climate threats.

As extreme weather conditions escalate, marathons and long-distance races across the globe are being postponed, cancelled or being run at midnight to avoid the risks to human life.

The organizers of the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Qatar opted to start the women’s marathon at 11:59 pm local time due to the daytime heat in Doha.

However, even at night temperatures reached over 32°C with humidity above 70%. As a result, 28 of the 68 starters failed to finish the race.

It’s not just extreme heat that is shifting the marathon experience. The New York City Marathon training series 18M was cancelled in September 2023 due to severe flooding.

A recent study has found that climate change could cause up to a 27% decline in the number of viable cities worldwide to host the Olympic marathon by the late 21st century. As a result, it suggests holding the marathon in October to protect regional diversity and human health.

US baseball, basketball and soccer teams were united over a common opposition last year: wildfires.

In June 2023, around 75 million people were under air quality alerts as wildfire smoke from Canada covered major US cities. The intensity of the smoke saw Major League Baseball, the Women’s National Basketball Association and the National Women’s Soccer League cancel games over concerns about dangerous air quality.

More frequent wildfires across the globe are increasing pollution levels which can exacerbate respiratory ailments as well as cardiovascular diseases. These risks could lead to as many as 9 million premature deaths per year by 2060, the Forum’s report suggests

For some baseball teams, climate change is having a different impact. Researchers have found that climate change caused more than 500 home runs since 2010, with higher air temperatures reducing air resistance for the ball to travel through.

That’s an average of 58 more home runs each season due to climate-induced warming.

The future of sporting events is under threat from our changing climate. Adaptation measures are increasingly vital to protect the athletes, supporters and sport itself as extreme weather events become increasingly common.

Many are already adapting to a new normal to preserve their sport and what it means for community and sportsmanship for generations of fans to come.