A historic heatwave that has swept France has thrown the Paris Diamond League into limbo this weekend after police authorities called for the prestigious athletics competition to be canceled, citing increasing pressure on emergency services and worsening weather conditions.The Paris police prefecture announced Friday that it had asked organizers to cancel Sunday’s Diamond League rally, along with several other large public events including a music festival and the city’s annual Pride Parade. Authorities said the extreme heat, which has gripped the French capital since June 21, has forced emergency services to prioritize the protection of the most vulnerable residents.The prefecture has warned that if the organizers do not voluntarily comply, they will execute the cancellation order.The move seriously threatens one of the most important stops on the Diamond League calendar, with Olympic champions and world stars including Noah Lyles, Femke Bol and Armando “Mondo” Duplantis is expected to compete.
Organizers hope to stage a custom event despite the extreme conditions
The French athletics federation, which is organizing the meet, told The Associated Press that it had not yet received an official order to cancel.A day earlier, organizers had insisted that the competition would take place in a modified format designed to reduce health risks.“The safety of athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators remains our absolute priority,” the organizers said. “Only elite athletes will be allowed to compete in the Paris meeting. This adjustment ensures that the event can go ahead while maintaining the highest possible safety standards.”The unprecedented weather has already broken national records. According to Meteo France, the average temperature recorded at 30 weather stations reached 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) for the second day in a row on Thursday, matching the warmest national average ever recorded.More than three-quarters of France has now been placed under a red weather alert for the first time in the country’s history.
