PARIS (AP) — This weekend’s Diamond League track and field meeting in Paris will go ahead as planned despite the historic heat wave gripping the country and stretching emergency services, organizers said on Friday.
Hours after Paris police authorities said they wanted the event canceled, the French athletics federation (FFA) confirmed that it would take place on Sunday at Charlety Stadium, in agreement with the police prefecture.
Citing the exceptional heat that has affected Paris since June 21, the police prefecture had asked organizers of the meet, and other events scheduled this weekend including a music festival and a Pride march, to cancel.
The prefecture said it would be forced to comply with the order if they didn’t agree voluntarily as emergency services needed to concentrate their efforts on protecting the most vulnerable people.
Noah Lyle, Femke Bol and Mondo Duplantis are among the athletes expected to compete in Paris.
The FFA, which organizes the meet, said it would be staged in “an adapted format designed to ensure the safety of all participants.”
Only competitions involving professional athletes will be held, with all other activities cancelled.
“Since the beginning of this extreme weather event, the French Athletics Federation has been closely monitoring the situation in constant coordination with government authorities. The safety of athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, spectators and all staff involved remains our highest priority,” the FFA said.
Among the measures put in place to mitigate the effects of the heat, the FFA cited delaying the opening of the stadium gates to the public, reinforcing medical and emergency services and providing additional drinking water stations and shaded areas.
The average temperature recorded at 30 weather stations by the Meteo France weather agency on Thursday reached 30 degrees C (86F) again, matching the record for the hottest day nationwide set the previous day.
More than three-quarters of France has been placed under a red weather alert for the first time.
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