Air Pollution Concerns Shadow 2024 Paris OlympicsAir Pollution Concerns Shadow 2024 Paris Olympics A comprehensive study by Respire, a French air quality organization, has unveiled alarming findings: nearly all outdoor sports fields in Paris exceed the World Health Organization’s recommended air quality thresholds. This revelation comes just ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, raising significant concerns for athletes and spectators alike. The Olympic Village, newly constructed for the Games, is surrounded by roads carrying an estimated 10,000 to 30,000 vehicles daily. To mitigate the pollution, the Village has been equipped with five air purifiers. Respire’s report underscores the heightened vulnerability of athletes to poor air quality due to their increased breathing rates. An athlete inhales up to ten times more air pollutants than an individual at rest. To empower the public, Respire has developed an interactive map that monitors air quality at over a hundred sports fields in Greater Paris, providing real-time updates and historical data. This tool empowers sports enthusiasts to make informed decisions about their outdoor activities. Tony Renucci, CEO of Respire, emphasizes the urgency of addressing air pollution hazards, stating: “Outdoor exercise during peak pollution levels is dangerous to your health. We need to reverse this trend and adopt new rules that better protect health.” Respire has formulated 16 recommendations to combat this issue, targeting athletes, local authorities, national government, and the European Union. These include: * Athletes: Avoid outdoor sports during pollution peaks or reduce intensity to allow nasal breathing. * Local authorities: Cease construction of sports facilities near major roads and implement measures to minimize road traffic. * State: Incorporate PM2.5 into national air quality alerts and educate the public about the risks of exercising during poor air quality. * EU: Accelerate the transition away from combustion engine vehicles and consider size limitations on all vehicles, including electric ones. The 2024 Paris Olympics serves as a poignant reminder of the intersection between air quality and public health. As the world turns its attention to this sporting spectacle, it is imperative to prioritize the well-being of athletes and the long-term air quality of the city that hosts them.
A new study by Respire, the French organization dedicated to improving air quality, has found that almost all outdoor sports fields in Paris exceed the air quality thresholds recommended by the World Health Organization, just ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Air quality and the 2024 Olympics are already uneasy bedfellows. The newly built Olympic Village is served by new roads that surround two schools attended by about 700 children. The problem is so well-known that the Olympic Village has been equipped with five air purifiers to mitigate the effects of the 10,000 to 30,000 cars that pass through each day.
In the new report, the association draws attention to the fact that athletes are more affected by poor air quality than others, due to their increased breathing rate.
According to the report, an athlete inhales four to ten times more air pollutants than someone at rest.
Respire believes that people should be aware of the air quality in areas where they may be playing sports. That’s why they’ve created an interactive map that shows the air quality at over a hundred sports fields in Greater Paris between 2012 and 2023, as well as the current pollution levels, updated every hour.
Tony Renucci, CEO of the Respire Association, said: ‘Outdoor exercise during peak pollution levels is dangerous to your health. This reality is still largely unknown to the public and to our leaders, who continue to build new sports centres near major roads. We need to reverse this trend and adopt new rules that better protect health.’
Respire makes 16 recommendations aimed at athletes, local authorities, central government and the EU.
Athletes are advised to postpone outdoor sports during pollution peaks, to at least reduce their intensity so that they can breathe through their nose for better air filtration. It is also advised to time their training to avoid traffic peaks and always check the air quality beforehand.
Local authorities are being asked to stop building sports facilities near main roads and take measures to reduce road traffic.
The state is being asked to include PM2.5 in national air quality alerts (currently only PM10 levels are reported) and to make information available to the public about the dangers of exercise during periods of poor air quality. Respire even goes so far as to suggest that outdoor sports venues could be closed during peak air pollution levels.
The EU is being urged to continue removing combustion engine vehicles from the road and also consider a limit on the size of vehicles, including electric vehicles.
