Athletes Discuss Climate Change at UN Summit

At the United Nations climate summit in Baku, Indian triathlete Pragnya Mohan highlighted the severe impacts of climate change on sports, stating that extreme heat in India has forced her to train in the UK and threatens the future of triathlons. She warned that if climate change continues unchecked, her sport could cease to exist, echoing concerns raised by other athletes like American discus thrower Sam Mattis and New Zealand soccer player Katie Rood, who shared their own experiences with extreme weather conditions affecting their training and competitions. Events like the recent Paris Olympics faced delays due to heavy rains leading to unhealthy conditions, illustrating the broader threat climate change poses to sporting events. Additionally, prominent soccer clubs, including La Liga's Real Betis, have formed a climate action alliance to address these issues and inspire fans to engage in climate advocacy. The athletes are calling for immediate action from sports organizations and governing bodies to combat climate change, emphasizing that inaction could exacerbate socio-economic disparities in sports. Overall, the summit underscored the urgency for the sporting community to tackle climate change to ensure the sustainability of sports for future generations.