Georgia will be too hot to host Olympics in 2050, data shows
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The majority of the world will be too hot to host the Summer Olympics by 2050, but what about Georgia?
By the numbers: An Axios analysis of CarbonPlan data finds that, in 2050, 60% of locations globally will experience Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures above 82°F, the American College of Sports Medicine's recommended threshold for canceling outdoor, continuous activity to avoid heat illness.
- CarbonPlan's models estimate that 100% of weather stations in Georgia will experience temperatures above the "cancel activity" level in 2050, compared to 98% of stations in 2020.
How it works: Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is a metric that takes into account air temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind to assess the risk of heat illness. It is widely used to determine safe temperatures for physical activity.
The big picture: While Georgia might not ever host the Olympics again, these models have sobering implications for all future outdoor sports and recreation.
- The next Summer Olympics will be hosted in the U.S., where the International Olympic Committee is already planning to implement heat protocols in Los Angeles.
- Atlanta will host eight men's World Cup matches in 2026.
- Earlier this month, the AJC Peachtree Road Race was called off after temperatures exceeded 90 degrees, prompting organizers to reevaluate how they can continue the Atlanta tradition amid a warming climate.
Read the full interactive project about how extreme heat is impacting the Olympics.