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HEROINE. Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines celebrates after a lift during the Tokyo Olympics weightlifting competitions.
EDGARD GARRIDO/REUTERS
Weightlifting heroine Hidilyn Diaz and fellow Filipino athletes Remedy Rule and Asa Miller join over 400 Olympians who ask the International Olympic Committee to prioritize the 'care of our planet'
MANILA, Philippines – Over 400 Olympians from 89 countries, including Filipina weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz, urged the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make climate action a priority in future stagings of the Summer and Winter Games.
Diaz, who won the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal, signed a letter calling on the IOC to strengthen commitment to cut carbon emissions, champion sustainability in host countries, set a standard for high-polluting sponsorships, and use its platform to advocate for environmental action.
Other Filipino athletes who were signatories include swimmer Remedy Rule and alpine skier Asa Miller.
The move comes two months after parts of Los Angeles, the host of the 2028 Olympics, were ravaged by a series of destructive wildfires that displaced tens of thousands of people.
“To the incoming president, we ask that over the coming years and the course of your presidency, one issue be above all others: the care of our planet,” the letter read.
“Rising temperatures and extreme weather are already disrupting competition schedules, putting iconic venues at risk, and affecting the health of athletes and fans.”
The LA wildfires, which burned over 50,000 acres and claimed 29 lives, were believed to be intensified by climate change.
In a study by World Weather Attribution, it estimated that climate change increased the likelihood of the LA wildfires by 35%.
“Extreme heat is raising real concerns about whether Summer Games can be held safely in future years and Winter Games are becoming harder to organize with reliable snow and ice conditions diminishing annually,” the letter read.
“This is no longer a distant threat, but a current and growing harm to the sports we love and to the countries that make up our Olympic family.”
A new IOC president will be elected on March 20, with seven candidates vying to replace Germany’s Thomas Bach.
The candidates are Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry, Britain’s Sebastian Coe, Jordan’s Prince Feisal Al Hussein, France’s David Lappartient, Sweden’s Johan Eliasch, Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch, and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe.
“As the incoming president, you have a precious opportunity to build on the IOC’s sustainability leadership, keeping the spirit of the Games alive by ensuring that sport remains accessible, and safe for future generations,” the letter read. – Rappler.com
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