'I can die': Medvedev survives extreme heat at Tokyo Games

Tennis... It was and still is the sport for those not quite up to the rough and tumble of soccer, rugby or other "proper" sport. Lets be honest..If your son came home from Jr high and said " I want to join the tennis club." Who wouldn't be disappointed?

“I can finish the match but I can die"

True. True. But if you didn't know, you do now. This is the Drill with this Loot Pack. It's all fun and games til … it's all over… and then the tears.

such a drama queen! go back to russia then!

It is too hot in Japan during the summer. Everyone knew that, but IOC and NBC pushed them to hold during the peak humidiheat season, so NBC could show the world series, and football to Americans in October.

Indeed the IOC makes athletes sign a waiver and calls out heat stroke as well. They knew it was going to be an issue. Would be interesting to see Bach try and do a light jog for 1 hour in the heat. See if they change things then.

spitfire: I wonder what the Tokyo Olympics heat index level is compared to the Australian Open.In Oz they often get curtsied temps of 50 plus degrees.

The arena was the first tennis venue in the world and the first arena of any kind in Australia to have a retractable roof installed. 

Roofs on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena can be closed in the event of rain or the Extreme Heat Policy being invoked prior to the scheduled start of play. If play commences with a roof closed, it will remain closed for the entire match.

Gotta love all the armchair athletes telling those good enough to have qualified for the Olympics to just suck it up and push on at all costs. Thanks for the laughs!

It has been hot elsewhere in the country, but Tokyo has been relatively lucky so far. Tokyo will be getting hotter shortly as full summer weather kicks in.

The Olympics in 1964 were moved to October for a reason. If they really wanted to have the Olympics in July why didn't Sapporo or Asahikawa bid for the games instead of crazy hot Tokyo?

Because it's a grift. They didn't care what they said to get it.

The Olympics in 1964 were moved to October for a reason. If they really wanted to have the Olympics in July why didn't Sapporo or Asahikawa bid for the games instead of crazy hot Tokyo?

WOW!! We have a lot of internet non athletes with negative opinions about how an athlete competes. Its not what you see in an athlete that makes him or her great, there are alot of other mental and physical things that these athlete have to endure that most of us have no idea of whats going on. I wonder if we have the same HIGH expectations that we put on these athletes for ourselves. I doubt it, its easier to make an opinion or observation than to accept ones own.

Weren't the LAST Summer Olympics in Tokyo '64 scheduled more sensibly in OCTOBER? Japanese summer heat + COVID pandemic = LUNACY! Will NOT be surprised if, due to heat exhaustion, there is a DEAD ATHLETE at this Olympics...

The dates where chosen for a specific political reason.

The original closing date was 2020 August 9th.

This was not a coincidence it was the victim card the LDP has been promoting for 76 years.

At least they are not wearing suits and ties…

Weren't the LAST Summer Olympics in Tokyo '64 scheduled more sensibly in OCTOBER? Japanese summer heat + COVID pandemic = LUNACY! Will NOT be surprised if, due to heat exhaustion, there is a DEAD ATHLETE at this Olympics...

It’s not even that hot. They should be glad they’re not playing in Kyoto.

Or Nagoya. Summer there is nasty.

It’s not even that hot. They should be glad they’re not playing in Kyoto.

Olympic idiotism...

Why not to schedule Olympics in a cooler season and time of the day?

Easy for you to say, sitting on your sofa eating your cakes.

:) It is easy.... If I force myself to watch tennis, a very rare thing, Zzzzz... I notice that they play for two hours but spend most of that time sat on a chair drinking Robinsons orange barley water or waiting to receive a serve or second serve. At my school the boys playing tennis were considered " a bit soft". It seems things haven't changed much.

Will NBC/IOC take responsibility if someone dies from heat stroke? This is very serious.

From:

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1108358/tokyo-2020-waivers-olympic-games

"I agree that I participate in the Games at my own risk and own responsibility, including any impact on my participation to and/or performance in the Games, serious bodily injury or even death raised by the potential exposure to health hazards such the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious disease or extreme heat conditions while attending the Games."

Players complaining about the heat (or Covid) is just wasting their time. They read the waiver and signed (or did they sign without reding?).  I mean, with that they were literally saying "Ok, if anything happens it's all on me". They all should have refused to sign something outrageous like that, but they didn't, so sadly it's on them.

What's almost as incompetent as the JGov? The Tokyo olympic organizers of course.

Come on.... Tennis players get a rest every few minutes. And it's the same for BOTH players. Conditioning is part of sport.

Easy for you to say, sitting on your sofa eating your cakes.

Come on.... Tennis players get a rest every few minutes. And it's the same for BOTH players. Conditioning is part of sport.

lostrune2Today  05:42 pm JST

There's hardly any American tennis medal contenders - why would NBC care when they play?

Not paying too much attention to the Olympics other than women's beach volleyball, but thought the US women Jennifer Brady, Jessica Pegula had a chance. They blew it.

"With many days of mild and sunny weather, this period provides an ideal climate for athletes to perform their best"

That phrase is going to haunt IOC and Japan. Which idiot came up with that? Mori?

As someone who is very much affected by heat and humidity, I can sympathize. Some of us do better in colder climes.

While I feel for players in this abominable heat, there must be something to acclimatization. My kids did the club activities in JHS and were able to do it day in day out for three years, plus a 30 minute walk each way with heavy bags. One did tennis, the other soccer. My wife and I must have asked them each a dozen times if they wanted to stay home but they always said they enjoyed it. Hot but fun, they would say.

This probably all could be avoided by either changing the time or venue. Have them play on top of Mt. Takao in the evening..,

Ok but maybe not the best ‘choice of words’ given the overall situation?

In related headlines today:

*- “Some in Japan warm to Olympics” *

and, some . . . think ‘the heat’ is unbearable.

It is not hot yet. Wait until the taifu completely passes and sucks up Southern moist air. Grow up or go home.

Will NBC/IOC take responsibility if someone dies from heat stroke?

There's hardly any American tennis medal contenders - why would NBC care when they play?

Playing through the night?

Give some Europeans and Nth/STH Americans to watch live.

Yeah, stupid idea, like full/on physical sports outdoors in Tokyo in late July.

Still this 2020 Olympics in 2021 is already remarkably different.

Some real international media has already brought the issues mentioned in this article.

Japan's Olympic organizers lied about its weather, and now athletes are paying the price

https://sports.yahoo.com/japan-lied-about-the-weather-and-now-olympians-are-paying-the-price-010612634.html

Considering this countries leadership, this is not a surprise at all!

Just walking in this heat can make you feel dizzy, so I can't imagine how he and the other athletes must feel like.

We've had athletes pass out in the heat, the least that could have been done is having the games be set indoors or something. Terrible management.

Or, he could possibly die from CoVID-19!

Over 3000 people infected in today's report and not one mention on JT!

hmmmmmmmm!

They could just brute force it, lease dozens of commercial A/C units and blow cold air at the athletes. Cool air sinks so it should work in open air stadiums.

I am often appalled at club activities/gym class taking place in this heat. Hours in the blazing sun and humidity. It’s like torture.

I find it incredibly sad that they just ganbarre through it.

In the shade of Olympics,

Patients who need ventilator or who cannot even hospitalize are increasing day by day, Japan's healthcare workers have been forced overwork to respond Covid-19 for one and half year.

But, not only Government, even mainstream media have no interest except Olympics or Japanese medalists. they abandoned role as journalist, ignore about even summer heat issue like this.

They will not stop this insane Olympics even if someone was victimized.

With many days of mild and sunny weather, this period provides an ideal climate for athletes to perform their best"" Mild and ideal" in Tokyo, in July and August? Let's ask Medvedev about that "mild and ideal" weather

Japan is " honesty" , so it would not lie during it's Olympic bid, would it? ..must be the foreigners causing trouble again...

"It was Google Translate's fault" claimed the organizers. "We put 命懸けほど暑くなる可能性があります" into the computer and that's what it spit out. And it was running Windows 95, we're right up to date here!"

It would pay for these Euro guys to do their research before they come, and not try to hold other people responsible for the weather.

Perhaps her made the mistake of trusting the Japanese authorities who claimed that the weather was suitable for paying sports in July.

It probably would be easier if it were officially recognised that the Japanese authorities tell lies that could cause the death of elite athletes. After all, honesty is not always a priority in Japan.

Only if the IOC (and NBC TV) would have accepted Japan's plan to have the Olympics in October like it did in 1964 then lots of this severe issues with the summer heat and humidity could have been avoided but TV ratings and revenue from advertising dictate how the Olympics are run. The Summer Olympics should be only held in one country, the home of the modern Olympics in Athens, Greece. Again, this was proposed but turned down by yes, the IOC.

We will never abandon the athletes but was missing from the side court probably seeping champagne and eating caviar in his 5 star presidential suite. Bach, our modern day male version of Marie Antionette.

TBH,while being hot,it isn't hot hot like Tokyo can be at this time of year.

We haven't had any tropical nights so far and the daytime temp hasn't hit 37 degrees yet like it sometimes does,also the humidity level isn't as stifling as usual,in fact,on Sunday it was only 45%.

I wonder what the Tokyo Olympics heat index level is compared to the Australian Open.In Oz they often get curtsied temps of 50 plus degrees.

The weather in the summer is dangerous, many children die of heatstroke, it's no joke.

Japan should never have been hosting the games in summer time.

It would pay for these Euro guys to do their research before they come, and not try to hold other people responsible for the weather

Blame the Japanese government and the Olympic Comitee rather than the “Euro dudes”

And rather than siding to everything that is remotely Japanese as you often do try to have a more neutral and logical thinking.

I can finish the match but I can die," Medvedev replied. "If I die, are you going to be responsible? A response any LDP supporter would support.

What is he talking about?

Dear leader back in the days already said that Japan has the perfect mild weather in summer for the athletes.

Besides sarcasm this weather can only be favourable to the locals already used to live with such harsh hot and humid summer.

Another advantage for them and for their super amplified sport event formerly knowns as the Olympics.

Wimp. LOL. Man up. Stop Whining. Hit the ball.

 "If I die, are you going to be responsible?"

Perhaps where this Medvedev is from, they do not have internet? Because if they did he could have easily researched Tokyo before he came and found that it is famously mega-hot and humid every summer. From early morning, day, afternoon, and into the evening. Djokovic was also complaining yesterday.

It would pay for these Euro guys to do their research before they come, and not try to hold other people responsible for the weather.

Hopefully someone will sue these parties if health issues arise.

It might work.

The athletes all had to sign a waiver stating that they would take responsibility if they tested positive for Covid, but I don't know if they had to sign anything stating that they wouldn't lift a finger against the IOC / JOC if they were seriously damaged by the sun.

The absolute disregard for the safety of the athletes is going to be one of many lingering images from these games.

I feel you man.

Car in the shop and had to walk 5km from work to the house today.

I am pooped.

Note that Medvedev soldiered on like a trooper and at no point invoked his "mental health".

Although I gotta say I think he's crazy playing in weather like that.

No medal is worth heatstroke, as much as the IOC would probably consider that collateral damage.

Timings for events in Japan are determined by IOC following requests from US Broadcasting needs, fitting revenue generating advertisements at peak times between glimpses of sport.

Maybe the IOC business model needs changing, with more focus on the local needs and conditions for athletes and staff, as well as spectators.

Blame NBC, IOC, NHK, Bach, and any other money grubbing conglomerate involved with all of the timings.

Hopefully someone will sue these parties if health issues arise.

Nice Italian weather for Fognini? Classic heatstroke/sunstroke symptoms for Medvedev?

But during the bidding for Olympics 2020 Japan stated it had a mild climate during summer.

Its sad to see athletes suffer like this just for the IOC to make money off them

Other day the winner of Triathlon race vomitted after crossing the finish line, and had to be put on a wheelchair and given medical attention due to extreme heat conditions

Criminal the way this is being conducted

I absolutely don't want this to happen but I'm just waiting for someone to die from this.

Why can't these knuckleheads DO THE RIGHT THING and move it to the evening/night or early morning?

Will NBC/IOC take responsibility if someone dies from heat stroke? This is very serious.

At least spectators are not allowed. God knows how many lives were saved from heat strokes due to this particular covid restriction.

Moving to evening will not help much. Tokyo Olympics in mid Japanese summer were deemed to be torture for athletes from day one. Thanks greedy broadcasters for that.

Why cant they start at 7am? its a lot cooler? there are some stupid organisers, very irresponsible.

This seems an opportune time to once again bring up the phrase used in Japan's proposal to host the Olympics:

"With many days of mild and sunny weather, this period provides an ideal climate for athletes to perform their best"

"Mild and ideal" in Tokyo, in July and August? Let's ask Medvedev about that "mild and ideal" weather, shall we?

They will continue this torture until some really collapses & is taken to hospital or worse!!!

I understand ratings and scheduling, but do they really have to start at 11 am, to catch the hottest part of the day? They could have a morning session starting early and finishing before noon, then an evening session starting at 5 pm or so. Especially now that we are getting close to quarterfinals, and the number of matches is getting lower.

I played tennis matches at noon last week, even at amateur level, is brutal.