In anticipation of high heat and humidity during the Games, the organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have announced that the cross-country portion of the equestrian events will take place earlier in the day than initially planned.
The competition, which will be held at Sea Forest Cross-Country Course, will start between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
The Summer Games will run from July 24th to August 9th. With temperatures reaching 40° Celsius in Tokyo at that time of year, officials have warned that medical emergencies due to the heat may arise in athletes and spectators alike.
During test events this past August, organizers were praised for their plans to combat the heat, including the use of mist sprays and cooling agents. Extreme heat and poor water quality, however, have made it difficult to allay the concerns of medication professionals.
The International Olympic Committee has also changed the competition times for the triathlon, and have moved the marathon and race-walking competitions to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, where it is cooler.
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