A recent report, supported by climate scientists and athletes, cautioned on Tuesday about the potential hazards of exceptionally high temperatures during the upcoming Paris Olympics. The 'Rings of Fire' report, a joint effort by Climate Central, scholars from the University of Portsmouth in the UK, and 11 Olympians, suggests that conditions in Paris might surpass those experienced during the 2021 Tokyo Games. It highlights that 'intense heat during the Paris Olympics in July-August 2024 could result in athletes collapsing and, in the worst scenarios, dying during the Games.' The study contributes to the increasing demands from sports professionals to modify event schedules and timings to accommodate the physical challenges of competing in higher temperatures due to global warming. 'Rings of Fire' encourages organizers of major summer events, like the Olympics or the football World Cup, to reconsider their scheduling and implement enhanced rehydration and cooling strategies for both athletes and spectators to mitigate the risk of heat stroke. The Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to August 11, are planned for the typically warmest months in the French capital, which has recently faced several record heatwaves. Last year, over 5,000 deaths in France were attributed to extreme summer heat, with new local temperature highs surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) recorded nationwide, according to public health data. A study in the Lancet Planet Health journal last May indicated that Paris had the highest heat-related death rates among 854 European towns and cities, partly due to its limited green space and dense population. Currently, persistent rain poses a greater weather-related concern for organizers, with frequent downpours in May and June causing unusually strong currents in the Seine River and poor water quality. The Seine is set to host a boat parade during the planned opening ceremony on July 26, as well as the triathlon and marathon swimming events, contingent on pollution levels. Organizers of Paris 2024 claim they have incorporated flexibility into their schedules, allowing them to reschedule events like the marathon or triathlon to avoid the hottest midday hours. However, much of the Games will occur in temporary stands without shade, and the athletes' village has been constructed without air conditioning to minimize the Games' carbon footprint. 'Sleep disruption due to heat has been a significant concern in the lead-up to the 2024 Games, particularly given the absence of air conditioning in the Olympic Village,' the report noted. Olympic teams have been given the option to install portable air-conditioning units in their accommodations, which many have chosen to include. One of the athletes supporting the 'Rings of Fire' report, Indian triathlete Pragnya Mohan, stated she left her home country due to high temperatures, with India recently experiencing its longest heatwave. 'With climate change, the heat we experience has increased dramatically,' Mohan explained. 'I can no longer train in my country. That's one reason I moved to the UK.' The last Summer Olympics in Tokyo were considered the hottest on record, with temperatures consistently above 30C and 80 percent humidity. Tokyo organizers relocated the race walk events and two marathons 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of Tokyo in search of cooler weather, which was not significantly achieved. Despite various heat-mitigation measures, including misting stations, many athletes struggled during their performances, such as Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev, who questioned whether he might die during a match. Following Tokyo, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who penned a foreword for 'Rings of Fire', warned that competing in 'really harsh climatic conditions' was becoming the 'new norm'.