Players Faint Amid Heatwave Chaos... Former Tokyo Governor Says "Where Is a Cool Summer?"

Novak Djokovic (Serbia), who participated in the tennis event at the Tokyo Olympics, is cooling down his body heat on the bench during a match in Tokyo on the 28th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Amid ongoing concerns over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics being held in extreme heat, a ridiculous remark by the former Tokyo governor has come under scrutiny.

On the 30th, the Japanese local media outlet "Nikkan Gendai" reported that Naoki Inose, the former Tokyo governor who caused Japan to be labeled a liar worldwide, showed a brazen attitude. According to the report, when criticism over the heat during the Tokyo Olympics continued, Inose posted on his social media (SNS) saying, "Where is a cool summer?"

Inose stated, "Istanbul and Madrid, which were also competing cities to host the Olympics, had weather similar to Tokyo," adding, "Summer is hot everywhere, but if you adjust the game times, it is somewhat bearable." In response, Nikkan Gendai acknowledged that "Istanbul and Madrid are indeed hot," but criticized, "Tokyo's humidity is overwhelmingly higher."

In fact, comparing the weather of the three cities as of the 28th, the highest temperatures in Istanbul, Madrid, and Tokyo were 34.2°C, 33.5°C, and 30.7°C respectively, showing no significant difference. However, the humidity levels were 26%, 25%, and 73%, with Tokyo being markedly higher. Experts also warned that on humid days, the evaporative cooling effect from sweating decreases, making it harder to regulate body temperature, and that holding sports events in such weather could lead to concerns about brain damage caused by heatstroke.

Earlier in this Olympics, during archery events, a Russian athlete fainted due to extreme heat, and several athletes experienced collective vomiting symptoms after the triathlon final. In tennis matches, a Spanish player withdrew citing heatstroke symptoms, and following continuous protests from athletes, the start time of matches was postponed to 3 p.m.

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic commented after finishing his first-round men's singles match on the 24th, saying, "This is the harshest heat I have ever experienced." Upon hearing the decision to delay match times, Djokovic also remarked, "It's good news, but I wish it had been decided earlier."

Meanwhile, when Japan submitted its bid for the Tokyo Olympics in 2013, it described Tokyo's weather from July to August as "mild and clear," promising "an ideal climate where athletes can perform at their best."