Spectators at the Olympics - The heat of the match

Research Departments Physiology 20200128 SPectators at the Olympics

28 January 2020

The 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics will be held in the midst of Tokyo’s Summer, characterized by hot (>30°C) and humid (>75% relative humidity) climatic conditions. August is the hottest month in Tokyo, and the 2020 Olympics are expected to be the hottest Olympics on record based on the Tokyo climate. As a consequence of the high humidity and ambient air temperature, one might expect environmental impact on health and human heat stress will exacerbate for those competing and spectating at the Olympic Games. For athletes, the combination of environmental heat stress and exercise-induced heat production will result in core body temperature elevations. Increases in core body temperature may result in exertional hyperthermia (>40°C), which is known to cause substantial reductions in exercise performance and increases the risk to develop heat-related illnesses. As a result, much attention is given to the preparation (i.e. acclimatisation and cooling/rehydration strategies) and safety (heat policies) of athletes, whereas the Tokyo conditions are potentially a major challenge for the spectators as well.

Therefore, Yannick de Korte, Coen Bongers and Thijs Eijsvogels will perform a unique study in which the the thermoregulatory responses and cardiovascular strain of spectators while watching a sporting event in a simulated hot and humid Tokyo environment will be assessed. The local newspaper “De Gelderlander” wrote a (Dutch) article about this upcoming study in which the challenges of Tokyo were summarized. More information about this project, and the possibility to take part in this study, can be found here: https://www.radboudumc.nl/onderzoeksprojecten/thermo-tokyo/supporters-gezocht

Want to know more about these subjects? Click on the buttons below for more news.

Physiology

Related items

Five ZonMw ‘Off Road’ grants for Radboudumc researchers

17 February 2020

Benoit Besson, Annemarie Boleij, Jonne Doorduin, Jorik Nonnekes and Sara Roig Merino have each received an ZonMw ‘Off Road’ grant of €100,000. The grants are intended for biomedical health researchers who dare to go off the beaten track in their search for new insights and unexpected breakthroughs.

Dutch Kidney Foundation PhD grant for Johan van der Vlag and Tom Nijenhuis

14 February 2020

Johan van der Vlag and Tom Nijenhuis, theme Renal disorders, received this grant for their joint research project “Targeting a novel paracrine signaling pathway between glomerular endothelium and podocytes to treat glomerular injury”.

Marie Curie Global Fellowship for Maria Ibars Serra

7 February 2020

RIMLS postdoc Maria Ibars Serra, theme Renal disorders, is awarded with a Marie-Curie Global Fellowship. The next three years she will focus on unraveling the role of a mysterious gene involved in magnesium balance in the body.

Employees Personal Touch Merle Schoofs

30 January 2020

In the monthly 'Employee's Personal Touch', an employee answers a few questions about the work, all with a personal touch. Now Merle Schoofs tells us her story.

Sell Your Science Policy Day 2020

26 January 2020

Twitter, LinkedIn, Infographics for your social outreach? Press releases? These were some of the themes presented on this years Policy Day.

NWO Open Competition Domain Science - XS grant for Ronald van Rij and Jenny van der Wijst

21 January 2020

NWO Domain Science has awarded Ronald van Rij, theme Infectious diseases and global health and Jennny van der Wijst, theme Renal disorders an XS grant. The XS category emphatically strives to encourage curiosity-driven and bold research involving a relatively quick analysis of a promising idea.