Paris police authorities have requested the cancellation of this weekend’s prestigious Diamond League track and field meeting, alongside other major events, as a historic heatwave continues to grip France and strain emergency services.
Citing the exceptional heat affecting the capital since 21 June, the police prefecture confirmed it had asked organisers of Sunday’s athletics meet, a music festival, and a Pride march to call off their events.
The prefecture warned it would be compelled to enforce the order if voluntary agreement was not reached, emphasising the critical need for emergency services to focus on safeguarding the most vulnerable.
The potential cancellation impacts top athletes such as Noah Lyles, Femke Bol, and Mondo Duplantis, who were expected to compete. The French track and field federation, responsible for organising the meet, stated it had not yet received the official order.
Organisers had previously indicated on Thursday their intention to proceed with the event in an adapted format.
They released a statement asserting: “The safety of athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators remains our absolute priority. As a result, only elite athletes will be permitted to compete at the Paris Meeting, in accordance with this exemption. This adaptation ensures that the event can proceed while maintaining the highest possible standards of safety.”
The request comes as France endures unprecedented temperatures. The national average recorded by Meteo France reached 30 degrees Celsius on Thursday, matching the previous day’s record for the hottest nationwide.
More than three-quarters of the country is currently under a red weather alert, a first for France.
Earlier this week, the Eiffel Tower was forced to close and 68,000 households were left without electricity in France as the heatwave raised temperatures beyond 43C. The temperature reached 40C in Paris on Wednesday.
The French capital won’t see a significant drop until Sunday, when highs of 30C are forecast, finally seeing some reprieve at the beginning of next week when it drops into the mid-twenties.
But areas of the country’s southeast – which currently is not as scorching as parts of the west – will continue sweltering as temperatures rise up to the high 30s early next week.
