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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)
The Paris Olympics officially began on Friday, July 26. And starting this Monday, a heatwave is taking hold in France, with temperatures exceeding 35°C in the capital. How did the Olympic Games Organizing Committee anticipate this weather to protect the athletes? Answers from Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo.
The first heatwave of the summer begins this Monday across France, while the Olympic Games are in full swing. Temperatures of around 40°C are expected in some places in the country, while in Paris, they will exceed 35°C. What measures are being taken by the Games Organising Committee to avoid endangering the athletes?
Programming of events, adapted infrastructures… Various measures have been taken by the Olympic Committee
Asked about this, Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo, reveals the various measures taken by the organizers of this global event to deal with the extreme heat. These include:
- A specific schedule of eventswith “competitions scheduled early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the hottest hours of the day, such as those at the Grand Palais” ;
- Weather monitoringwith “Météo-France mobilized to provide detailed forecasts ten days before each event, allowing adjustments in real time” ;
- Adapted infrastructurewith “air-conditioned rooms made available to athletes at INSEP to ensure optimal recovery” but also “Medical tents with cold baths will be installed at risk sites to quickly treat heatstroke” ;
- Finally, refreshing spaces were also planned, with “water fountains installed at competition venues – one for every 300 people – to ensure hydration spectators“.
What precautions are being taken more specifically for athletes?
In addition to these general measures, other specific measures have been decided for athletes, according to Dr. Gérald Kierzek. These include:
- Special physical preparationwith “athletes training in conditions simulating extreme heat to acclimatize their bodies, such as in the “hot room” at CREPS in Montpellier” ;
- In terms of hydration and nutrition: “Particular attention is paid to these two aspects to maintain performance and avoid heat stroke.” ;
- For recovery, “air-conditioned rooms and suitable rest periods are planned to promote it” concludes the doctor.
Slideshow: Heatwave, intense heat… What are the risks for our body?