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North Wales Chronicle
10-07-2025
- Climate
- North Wales Chronicle
Sabalenka gives water to Wimbledon spectators amid sweltering conditions
During the first set of her semi-final against Amanda Anisimova, the Belarusian handed a bottle of water and an ice pack into the stands to cheers on court. Umbrellas were also passed into the stand to the supporter, with play stopped while they received help on Thursday afternoon. Only a short time later, another spectator sat in Centre Court's east stand, which is open to the sun, required attention – with Sabalenka once again walking across court to hand water into the crowd. Sabalenka, who was knocked out of the tournament by American Anisimova, said she hoped the spectators 'feel better', adding that the interruptions 'did not interrupt the play' of the match. Speaking at a press conference after the match, Sabalenka said: 'I feel like London is not ready for this weather. 'It was super hot, and I can't even imagine sitting in one place and the sun just constantly hitting you. 'You have got to be really prepared, stay hydrated, and it can happen to everyone. 'I just hope they feel better.' Temperatures are forecast to top 30C on the final four days of the tournament, including on Saturday for the women's singles final and Sunday for the men's singles final. Last week saw the hottest opening day in Wimbledon's history, with temperatures hitting 29.7C on Monday June 30 and rising to 34.2C on Tuesday July 1. Wimbledon's famous queue is typically shorter on the final four days of the tournament, with tickets sold in advance for show courts. Aryna Sabalenka looking after those who came to support her 🤝#Wimbledon | @SabalenkaA — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2025 However, spectators still came prepared for the conditions – with many bringing umbrellas, fans, and hats to shield themselves from the sun while waiting to enter the grounds and on Henman Hill. Some tennis fans were spotted napping in the morning heat, while others applied sun cream. The baby daughter of Swiss tennis player Belinda Bencic was seen wearing a sunhat at a training session on day eleven of the championships on Thursday. Bencic has credited her daughter, Bella, for helping her stay relaxed after defeating teenage star Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday to reach a first Wimbledon semi-final. Wimbledon said it had 'significantly increased the number of Evian water refill stations year-on-year around the grounds', with 6,700 reusable water bottles distributed to staff. Tournament organisers said they had also distributed over 100 free water refill points positioned around the grounds for general use. The tournament said its staff shift patterns were 'adjusted to limit heat exposure', with 'medical teams monitoring wellbeing and regular tailored colleague communications offering tips to manage the weather conditions'. It added that for players, the heat rule will apply for all singles events – which allows for a 10-minute break when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is at or above 30.1C. The rule will apply after the second set for all best of three set matches, and after the third for all best of five set matches. Players may leave the court during the break, but they may not receive coaching or medical treatment. Asked about the conditions, former British tennis player Greg Rusedski said: 'It was super, super hot the opening two days – when it's hot, the ball goes through the air and it's harder to control. 'That's very untypical British weather and we're going to get that again with the heatwave at the final weekend as well.' Discussing the conditions at the end of the tournament, Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said: 'It is going to be a hot one with little cloud around. 'UV levels are going to be pretty high so anyone going to the (Wimbledon) finals should wear plenty of sun cream and stay hydrated as there is not going to be too much of a breeze to cool down. 'Pollen levels are also going to be high, so any hayfever sufferers should take medication to reduce that risk.' If you've got outdoor plans over the weekend then take note of the pollen and UV forecasts 🌻☀️ Both will be very high due to rising temperatures and prolonged sunshine — Met Office (@metoffice) July 10, 2025 A message broadcast through the Wimbledon loudspeakers once the grounds opened on Thursday morning told spectators: 'We are expecting a hot, dry sunny day with a top temperature of 30 degrees. 'So please remember to look after yourselves and others, apply sunscreen, cover up and drink plenty of water regularly. 'If you do start to feel unwell, move to a shaded area as soon as possible and inform a member of staff.' The hottest day ever recorded during the Wimbledon fortnight occurred on July 1 2015, when temperatures soared to 35.7C, according to the Met Office. The highest overnight minimum temperature was 20.8C recorded on June 27 1976 during a particularly warm summer. The extreme heat in 1976 prompted tournament organisers to allow umpires to remove their jackets. Among the famous faces to arrive at the tournament on Thursday were Sir Stephen Fry, actor Ben Whishaw and former government chief scientific adviser, Lord Patrick Vallance. Cherie Blair, the wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, was also pictured arriving at the championships.
Glasgow Times
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Glasgow Times
Sabalenka gives water to Wimbledon spectators amid sweltering conditions
During the first set of her semi-final against Amanda Anisimova, the Belarusian handed a bottle of water and an ice pack into the stands to cheers on court. Umbrellas were also passed into the stand to the supporters, with play stopped while they received help on Thursday afternoon. Aryna Sabalenka cools down in-between games during her Ladies' Singles match against Amanda Anisimova (Mike Egerton / pa). Only a short time later, another spectator sat in Centre Court's east stand, which is open to the sun, required attention – with Sabalenka once again walking across court to hand water into the crowd. Temperatures are forecast to top 30C on the final four days of the tournament, including on Saturday for the women's singles final and Sunday for the men's singles final. Last week saw the hottest opening day in Wimbledon's history, with temperatures hitting 29.7C on Monday June 30 and rising to 34.2C on Tuesday July 1. Wimbledon's famous queue is typically shorter on the final four days of the tournament, with tickets sold in advance for show courts. Aryna Sabalenka looking after those who came to support her 🤝#Wimbledon | @SabalenkaA — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2025 However, spectators still came prepared for the conditions – with many bringing umbrellas, fans, and hats to shield themselves from the sun while waiting to enter the grounds and on Henman Hill. Some tennis fans were spotted napping in the morning heat, while others applied sun cream. The baby daughter of Swiss tennis player Belinda Bencic was seen wearing a sunhat at a training session on day eleven of the championships on Thursday. Bencic has credited her daughter, Bella, for helping her stay relaxed after defeating teenage star Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday to reach a first Wimbledon semi-final. Wimbledon said it had 'significantly increased the number of Evian water refill stations year-on-year around the grounds', with 6,700 reusable water bottles distributed to staff. Tournament organisers said they had also distributed over 100 free water refill points positioned around the grounds for general use. The tournament said its staff shift patterns were 'adjusted to limit heat exposure', with 'medical teams monitoring wellbeing and regular tailored colleague communications offering tips to manage the weather conditions'. It added that for players, the heat rule will apply for all singles events – which allows for a 10-minute break when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is at or above 30.1C. Aryna Sabalenka passed out water to spectators during her semi-final match (Mike Egerton/PA) The rule will apply after the second set for all best of three set matches, and after the third for all best of five set matches. Players may leave the court during the break, but they may not receive coaching or medical treatment. Asked about the conditions, former British tennis player Greg Rusedski said: 'It was super, super hot the opening two days – when it's hot, the ball goes through the air and it's harder to control. 'That's very untypical British weather and we're going to get that again with the heatwave at the final weekend as well.' Discussing the conditions at the end of the tournament, Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said: 'It is going to be a hot one with little cloud around. 'UV levels are going to be pretty high so anyone going to the (Wimbledon) finals should wear plenty of sun cream and stay hydrated as there is not going to be too much of a breeze to cool down. 'Pollen levels are also going to be high, so any hayfever sufferers should take medication to reduce that risk.' If you've got outdoor plans over the weekend then take note of the pollen and UV forecasts 🌻☀️ Both will be very high due to rising temperatures and prolonged sunshine — Met Office (@metoffice) July 10, 2025 A message broadcast through the Wimbledon loudspeakers once the grounds opened on Thursday morning told spectators: 'We are expecting a hot, dry sunny day with a top temperature of 30 degrees. 'So please remember to look after yourselves and others, apply sunscreen, cover up and drink plenty of water regularly. 'If you do start to feel unwell, move to a shaded area as soon as possible and inform a member of staff.' The hottest day ever recorded during the Wimbledon fortnight occurred on July 1 2015, when temperatures soared to 35.7C, according to the Met Office. The highest overnight minimum temperature was 20.8C recorded on June 27 1976 during a particularly warm summer. The extreme heat in 1976 prompted tournament organisers to allow umpires to remove their jackets. Among the famous faces to arrive at the tournament on Thursday were Sir Stephen Fry, actor Ben Whishaw and former government chief scientific adviser, Lord Patrick Vallance. Cherie Blair, the wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, was also pictured arriving at the championships.
Morocco World
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Morocco World
FIFA Pushed to Play 2026 World Cup Final at 9 AM
FIFA's grand plan for a blockbuster 2026 World Cup final in New York could face a reckoning as experts, unions, and managers slam the tournament's summer timing amid record-breaking heat. The Club World Cup, currently being held across the United States, has become a dress rehearsal for disaster. With temperatures soaring to 39°C in New York and humidity pushing heat indexes above 50°C, questions are being asked about whether midday kick-offs in open-roof stadiums are madness masquerading as marketing. Professor Mike Tipton, a specialist in human responses to extreme temperatures, told the BBC: 'I'd move it to an air-conditioned stadium with a roof, and preferably to a cooler time of the year. From a thermal-physiological perspective…I'd be looking to start games as early as possible.' How early? Try 9 a.m. for a World Cup final. Tipton argues it's a better alternative than turning the pitch into a slow-cooking oven for players, officials, and thousands of sweating fans. And he's not alone. FIFPRO, the global players' union, has branded the Club World Cup a 'wake-up call'. Dr Vincent Gouttebarge, its medical director, declared that Chelsea vs ES Tunis and PSG vs Atletico Madrid 'should have been postponed' due to WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) readings above 28°C – well past FIFPRO's red flag threshold. The WBGT is a measure of heat stress in direct sunlight that considers temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and cloud cover. 'We will plead,' sighed Alex Phillips, FIFPRO's general secretary. 'We will use common-sense arguments. MLS doesn't play matches at midday in Florida, for example. So why should FIFA?' The outrage is shared by players. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said it was 'impossible' to run proper training in Philadelphia under a 'code red' heat warning. Thunderstorms have delayed six matches at this Club World Cup, including Chelsea's 4-1 win over Benfica, suspended for two hours in Charlotte. 'A joke,' Maresca called it. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund's substitutes watched the first half of their match against Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati from the dressing room, with manager Niko Kovac likening conditions to 'a sauna'. Even referees haven't escaped unscathed – a Guatemalan official collapsed mid-match in Kansas City. Former Ireland keeper Packie Bonner, who suffered through a scorching 41°C heat in the 1994 World Cup in the US, was blunt: 'Your brain goes into a fog… It was unbelievable.' He lost 10lbs in one session. FIFPRO now wants 20-minute half-time breaks in extreme heat, arguing the usual three-minute 'cooling breaks' aren't cutting it. 'Fifteen minutes might not be enough to decrease core temperature,' said Gouttebarge. And yet FIFA ploughs on. A statement insisted: 'Cooling breaks' have been implemented in 31 out of 54 matches so far, a statement insisted. With this logic, bottles, towels, shade, and hydration stations are apparently enough. But critics say that the real solution – scheduling matches to avoid peak heat – is being ignored in favor of TV slots and sponsor demands. 'At some point, shading and water won't be enough,' warned Phillips. 'This is a discussion we need to have – and soon.' The irony is that FIFA's expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches has only made the calendar more inflexible. With only five of the 16 venues boasting a roof, and cities like Miami, Dallas, and Monterrey flagged as 'extreme risk' by researchers, the spectre of a heat-stricken World Cup 2026 looms large. The MetLife Stadium, set to host the final, has no roof and no plan for shade. And while European fans might grumble about a morning kick-off, it might be the only way to avoid scenes of collapsing players and drenched supporters gasping for breath in what could be the hottest World Cup on record. As one senior meteorologist warned, climate change is not just coming to football – it's already in the starting XI. And if FIFA doesn't budge, fans, players, referees, media crew, and stadium staff need to brace themselves for a final in a blistering inferno. Tags: 2026 World cupClub World Cupheatwavethunderstorms
