Fun fact for pandemic-plagued Olympics

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
Scuttlebutt typically does not share sponsor announcements, as they tend to be a company giving product or cash to a team or event, with the hope of recognition to warrant the investment. Forgive us but we’d prefer getting the money ourselves over providing free promotion. We got bills to pay too.

However, we saw the announcement of how Oro Sports has become an official partner of the US Sailing Team, and how the sailors will rely on Oro Sports’ products, which includes cooling vests, to stay cool during the oppressive heat and humidity of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

For sure, the weather in Tokyo is going to be brutal, with fatalities common among the Japanese during the event dates of July 23 to August 8, 2021. But anytime we mention the Tokyo weather, we are reminded of the searing temperatures of Atlanta 1996 or Mexico City 1968.

Heck, there are plenty of places in the USA that can fry an egg on the asphalt during the summer.

But this story line with Tokyo won’t go away, and our only answer is how the Olympic sailing equipment requires more athleticism than past Games, translated to how the sailors are working harder now to maintain top performance. That, and how we worry about pretty much everything a whole lot more than we once did.

“Overheating occurs in the brain,” said Oro Sports co-founder Luanne DiBernardo. “Once overheated, the brain can no longer send signals for muscle movement. This is the basis of muscle fatigue, and the beginning of more serious heat injuries.”

While the sailing venue will be far kinder than pretty much any other venue at the Tokyo Games, it still will be hot.

“We are always looking for new ways to keep our athletes healthy, safe, and performing at their best,” said Paul Cayard, Executive Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing. “We are grateful to have the support of Oro Sports as we head into a hot summer in Japan and beyond, and to benefit from their innovative products.”

While it’s less of an issue for Asian nations more accustomed to the climate, this is just one more fun fact for the pandemic-plagued Olympics which finds international athletes training in heat lockers to adapt to the weather and wearing cooling clothes to regulate body temperature.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Program
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFx
Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy – Finn
Men’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Women’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Original dates: July 24 to August 9, 2020
Revised dates: July 23 to August 8, 2021

Details: https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/schedule/olympic/