Welcome to our special Beat the Heat episode dedicated to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This video will explore the climatic conditions on site; the measures in place
to manage heat and humidity for both humans and horses; and, how Covid-19 risk mitigation
may affect you and your horse’s heat management plan.
Let’s start with the local climatic conditions. Japan is an amazing series of islands stretched
between the Asian continent and the Pacific Ocean, where summer gets fairly hot and very humid.
The WGBT index is expected to be around 30oC.
A high value, even when compared to previous Olympic recorded indexes such as Barcelona,
Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London and Rio.
Direct consequences for both equine and human athletes are: reduced performance, earlier
onset of fatigue, increased risk of mistakes, increased risk of injury, and increased risk
of illness. Therefore, a good preparation and mastering
of all heat and humidity counter measures is paramount. In our previous Beat the Heat
episodes, you learned about Acclimatisation & training at home, hydration and nutrition,
cooling techniques, travel and arrival best practices…
Now, let’s review some of the measures in place for Tokyo 2020 regarding heat and humidity
risk management: First of all, it’s important to highlight
that in terms of competition and training schedules, there are morning and evening sessions
specifically to accommodate and avoid the hottest part of the day.
It’s also interesting to note that Athletes may be permitted to remove their jackets during
competition! And should there be particularly challenging
conditions, there is the possibility to adjust the distance of the Cross Country course.
In terms of staying cool, all stables are air-conditioned and located in a series of
barns. At both the Equestrian Park and Sea Forest stables, you can expect to find plenty
of ice and cold water available. There are also horse cooling tents and facilities
present on both venues and they are fully equipped with cooling / misting fans, ice,
water, and dedicated cooling teams to monitor operations and manage supplies and equipment.
At the Equestrian Park training and competition venue, cooling tents are available by the
training areas, the final warm-up and final holding area.
At the Sea Forest venue where Eventing cross country takes place, cooling tents are available
in the warm-up area, and in the finish area. There are also emergency mobile cooling teams
and vehicles on the cross country course ready to respond should a horse require immediate
cooling. In terms of specialised personnel, there is
a team of FEI Stewards and Veterinarians available to monitor and assist horses at all times.
There is a fully equipped, air-conditioned veterinary clinic staffed by an international team of
experienced equine specialist vets. Many of you are familiar with these Heat & Humidity measures,
and thanks to over two decades of research, there are many effective solutions
in place to handle heat and humidity during the Tokyo 2020 Games.
We are now going to review the mitigation measures for Covid-19, the social distancing
and hygiene rules in place, and how these will impact your daily sport related routines:
It starts with arrival – as all Athletes will only be allowed to enter Japan on a just
in time basis to prepare for competition as their Horses arrive.
While onsite, wearing face masks is required at all times – except when eating, drinking,
sleeping, training or competing. As all athletes and staff will be required
to spend extensive time in their rooms, because of organised & regulated access to venues,
make sure you room air conditioner is not running too cold, or your body will have difficulties
to acclimatise properly. Access to air-conditioned areas at venues
will be limited to a certain amount of people. In addition, Athletes will be required to
limit their time at indoor facilities and to comply with the one way entrance/exit policy
in place. This means you will sometimes need to wait in the heat. Make sure to always have
water, a cap, a fan and sunscreen with you. Time spent in the changing rooms has to be
kept to a minimum, no conversations should take place without a mask and shower spaces
will also need to follow social distance rules. As a result, you may have to wait before a
shower is available at the venues. Shaded areas and horse cooling tents will
also follow social distancing measures with limited numbers of people allowed at the same
time. Make sure you know where all available cooling areas are located and plan accordingly.
If you use cooling vests, ask your National Olympic or Paralympic Committee for a freezer
in your room/apartment, or make sure you know where the nearest freezers are. Freezers will
also be available in each stable block. All of the information from this video, and
more, can be found on our dedicated Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic hubs on INsideFEI
- please visit this page regularly for updates. Your National Federation can also provide
you with information, and while in Tokyo you will be able to turn to your team leader for
daily practical guidance.
So stay safe, go beat that heat, and make the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games an
unforgettable moment of sport, willpower, togetherness and excellence!