The effects of weather on sport are varied, with some events unable to take place while others are changed considerably. The performance of participants can be reduced or improved, and some sporting world records are invalid if set under certain weather conditions. While outdoor sports are most affected, those played indoors can still be impacted by adverse or advantageous weather conditions.
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Temperature has a significant impact of the performance of athletes. High temperature can cause various heat illnesses such as heat cramps and heat stroke, while very low temperatures may lead to hypothermia.
Some major sporting events cannot be held when the temperature is too high. When FIFA selected Qatar as the host of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup they opted to run the event in the January window rather than July or August because they considered it to be "too hot in the Gulf region".[1] However, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, also set to be held in Qatar, is scheduled for the Summer months (see 2022 FIFA World Cup#Weather).
Training regimes may include methods of heat acclimatisation, and regulations in some sports stipulate the intensity of some schedules. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in North America requires teams to build up the level of training in hot weather. Such preparation intends to improve performance and reduce the potentially fatal risk of heat stroke.[2]
Some sports are cancelled because of precipitation. Some are deemed too dangerous to play when the ground is damp because of the danger of injury to a player through slipping.
When played professionally, the following sports do not usually take place during any level of precipitation:
When the rain is excessive an event might be cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch. Winter sports can sometimes be cancelled due to the amount of snow on the ground, be it too little or too much.
Wind can blow the equipment in a sporting even, changing the direction or travel of a ball. In golf the wind levels may influence the way a shot is taken.
A headwind can slow runners, while they may gain wind assistance from a tailwind.
Some sports rely on the presence of wind, especially surface water sports.
Some sports cannot be played if there is insufficient visibility as it can make them dangerous or can be disadvantageous to a competitor. Cricket test matches often finish when the umpire decides that the light level is too low and the timing of this can sometimes be controversial. The difficulties of playing in bad light conditions is also disputed.[3] Some events are called off when there is heavy fog.
The position of the sun can be a disadvantage to some competitors. In some circumstances a player may have their vision impaired by the brightness of the sun.