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In a move to safeguard athletes from heat stress during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, a novel technology developed by researchers has been deployed to assist the Australian Olympic team. This technology, originating from the University of Sydney, in collaboration with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), offers real-time monitoring of environmental conditions that could pose a risk to athlete performance and health.
Scattered around the Australian headquarters within the Paris Olympic Village, devices resembling small microphones have been discreetly installed. These devices, known as Environmental Measurement Units (EMUs), are not for recording audio but are sophisticated tools designed to measure a range of environmental factors. Specifically, the EMUs assess temperature, radiation, humidity, and wind speed – key indicators that contribute to heat stress. This technology aims to provide Australian athletes with an advantage by offering detailed and real-time data that informs strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme heat and humidity.
The Paris Olympic Village was originally conceived with an eco-friendly design, opting for a geothermal cooling system instead of traditional air conditioning. While this sustainable approach is innovative, it raised concerns among Australian Olympic support staff about the potential impact of high temperatures on athlete performance. These concerns led them to seek expertise from the University of Sydney’s Heat and Health Research Centre, a leading institution in the study of human thermoregulation and the management of extreme temperatures.
Professor Ollie Jay, who heads the Heat and Health Research Centre, played a pivotal role in this initiative. An expert in human thermoregulation, Professor Jay and his team developed the EMUs to capture real-time weather data, which is then processed by a specially designed algorithm. This algorithm generates a heat rating along with tailored advice, which is displayed on a real-time dashboard monitored by Australian support staff. The insights provided by this system enable the staff to offer timely guidance to athletes, helping them manage heat stress and maintain peak performance.
Professor Jay emphasised the significance of managing heat stress, describing it as an “invisible adversary” that can subtly undermine athletic performance. In extreme conditions, the combination of heat and humidity can be particularly insidious, compromising an athlete’s ability to compete at their best. The real-time data provided by the EMUs offers a crucial tool for mitigating these risks, potentially making the difference between reaching the podium or falling short.
The EMU technology has been previously tested in other high-stakes environments, including the Australian Open, where it was used to generate the Australian Open Heat Stress Scale. This background in managing extreme conditions made the University of Sydney’s team an ideal partner for the AOC, which has been actively seeking ways to turn potential environmental challenges into performance advantages for its athletes.
Since 2023, Professor Jay has been serving as a Heat Mitigation specialist for the AOC, providing ongoing advice on heat stress management and helping the team prepare for the potential challenges posed by extreme temperatures during the Olympics. This collaboration has been instrumental in equipping the Australian team with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the demanding conditions of the Paris Games.
The integration of the EMU technology at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to athlete safety and performance. By leveraging real-time environmental data, the Australian Olympic team is better equipped to manage the challenges posed by extreme heat, ultimately enhancing their chances of success on the world stage.
