Extreme heat may prevent D.C. area from hosting future Summer Olympics
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Most of the world will be too hot to host the Summer Olympics by 2050, including the DMV.
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 92% of weather stations in Virginia will experience temperatures above the "cancel activity" level in 2050, compared to 50% of stations in 2020.
- In Maryland, it's 97% of weather stations in 2050, compared to 67% 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 this puts a damper on the DMV hosting the Olympics, 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.
- The U.S. also will be a host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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