In the words of famous philosopher Charles Barkley, “College athletics is so f—d up right now. I don’t know what they’re gonna do to fix this thing. It’s out of control. I don’t know how you’re gonna put toothpaste back in the tube.”
Spectators at Paris 2024 huddled under misting sprayers near the Eiffel Tower as a 36°C (97°F) heatwave engulfed the city. Volunteers hosed down fans and signs pointed to water refill stations, all part of emergency cooling measures to keep people safe. Athletes, too, grappled with the heat: on sun-baked courts and fields, they took extra breaks, draping themselves with ice bags and cold towels. This was the scene at what some called the hottest Olympics on record, a stark reminder that climate change has introduced a formidable new opponent.
Sebastian Coe, a gold medal-winning former Olympic middle-distance runner and the president of World Athletics, wrote: “While global temperatures continue to rise, climate change should increasingly be viewed as an existential threat to sport,” in a paper titled Rings of Fire, Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics, released ahead of the Paris games.
In Tokyo’s 2021 Games, previously the hottest Olympics, more than 100 athletes suffered heat-related illnesses, and a U.S. discus thrower openly questioned whether Summer Games in the hottest months will even “be a thing” by 2028 unless events are held at midnight. Extreme heat is no longer an anomaly; it’s an expectation, and it’s forcing the Olympics to adapt or risk athlete health and performance on a large scale.
Paris 2024 offered a glimpse of how to confront this challenge. Organizers had clear heat contingency plans: they pledged to adjust event schedules if temperatures became unsafe, and they communicated these protocols publicly so athletes and spectators knew what to expect. Météo 94 France, the national weather agency, was on alert to advise Olympic officials, and venues across Paris were equipped with cooling stations and misting tents for relief. Such transparency and preparedness paid off despite record heat, competition continued with minimal disruption. The International Olympic Committee noted that Tokyo’s own heat countermeasures (like moving the marathon to a cooler region) “worked well,” sharing those lessons with Paris. Key sporting bodies are also establishing concrete thresholds: for example, Olympic tennis matches now trigger an “extreme heat” protocol when the wet-bulb globe temperature exceeds 30°C (86°F), pausing play for cooling breaks and even suspending matches if conditions worsen. All these steps underscore an important principle: clear communication of risk and response is just as vital as the physical measures themselves.
Los Angeles has the chance to build on these lessons and even raise the bar. The 2028 LA Games will unfold in a region known for summer heat waves and the urban heat island effect (concrete and asphalt can make the city significantly hotter than its surroundings). It’s also a region grappling with climate-amplified threats like wildfires and air-quality alerts. These conditions, while potentially hazards for residents, visitors, and states alike, also offer a sizable opportunity for LA28. By proactively publishing its heat-response playbook — well before the Opening Ceremony — LA28 can become a model of transparent climate risk communication. This means clearly defining protocols and thresholds: for instance, announcing that if the heat index or wet-bulb temperature hits a certain limit, marathon and endurance events will start at dawn, or that extra water stations and cooling buses will be deployed if ambient temperatures exceed X degrees. It means detailing contingency actions, like shifting outdoor event times, providing cooling centers for spectators, or even rescheduling events in extreme scenarios. Crucially, it also means engaging the public and athletes in these plans: when people know ahead of time that misting tents, free water, shade and schedule tweaks are on standby, they can protect their health and have greater confidence in the organizers’ preparedness.
Encouragingly, LA28 has signaled awareness that a hotter climate demands new thinking. The organizing committee has partnered with local universities and agencies on ShadeLA, a campaign to expand tree canopy and shade structures citywide in time for the Games.
EXTREME HEAT IS NO LONGER AN ANOMALY; IT’S AN EXPECTATION, AND IT’S FORCING THE OLYMPICS TO ADAPT OR RISK ATHLETE HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE ON A LARGE SCALE.
“LA28 is committed to incorporating sustainable solutions throughout the Games footprint,” said Becky Dale, VP of Sustainability at LA28. “ShadeLA supports not only keeping spectators cool during the Games, but also leaving a legacy of a cooler, greener Los Angeles for all Angelenos.”
Heat is already the deadliest weather risk in L.A., but boosting shade can drop the “feels-like” temperature by an astounding 20-40° F. Those are long-term investments in resilience and public health. Now, the next step is coupling infrastructure with information — openly sharing how LA28 will protect athletes and fans if a brutal heatwave strikes during the Games.
ENCOURAGINGLY, LA28 HAS SIGNALED AWARENESS THAT A HOTTER CLIMATE DEMANDS NEW THINKING. THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE HAS PARTNERED WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND AGENCIES ON SHADELA, A CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND TREE CANOPY AND SHADE STRUCTURES CITYWIDE IN TIME FOR THE GAMES.
“Los Angeles is hosting an unprecedented series of major sporting events, creating a rare window to rethink how we design for heat. ShadeLA is using this momentum to deliver shade infrastructure that protects athletes, fans, and workers during the Games — and keeps communities cooler, healthier, and more comfortable for decades to come,” said Monica Dean, climate and sustainability practice director at USC Dornsife Public Exchange. For journalists and communicators, LA28 can offer an effective pre-crisis communication model. Transparent updates on climate adaptations and contingencies can set a new standard for major events. Instead of waiting for criticism, Los Angeles can model safe hosting in a warming world — protecting LA28 and inspiring future hosts to put resilience and honest communication first. The clock is ticking toward the next Olympic flame in Los Angeles, but with the right preparations and messaging, LA28 can ensure that flame burns brightly, not blisteringly, for everyone watching.
Allison Agsten is the inaugural director of USC Annenberg’s Center for Climate Journalism and Communication, where she develops initiatives to bolster public understanding of climate change. She is also executive producer of the energy transition podcast series, Electric Futures, and the author of a range of reports addressing climate change and the media, corporate sustainability practices, and policy-related issues. In addition, Agsten serves as the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability’s first curator and as the university’s eco-chaplain.
Anahita Mehra is a strategic communicator and storyteller at the crossroads of sustainability, gender justice, and digital advocacy. She is pursuing a Master of Digital Communications at USC Annenberg while working as a research associate with Dean Willow Bay’s office, the Center for Climate Communication, and the USC Center for PR. Anahita has led global campaigns with the UNGA, WEF Davos, and COP, and in India, drove survivor advocacy and youth entrepreneurship projects to advance sustainable development.