Paris Diamond League format reduced because of heatwave

Paris Diamond League format reduced because of heatwaveImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Paris police have said this week's heatwave is putting a strain on emergency services and healthcare facilitiesByBen CollinsBBC Sport journalistPublished3 hours ago9 CommentsSunday's Diamond League meeting in Paris will go ahead in an adapted format after local police asked for all sporting events to be cancelled because of extreme heat.Wednesday was the country's hottest day on record, according to Meteo-France, with an average national temperature of 30C.Emergency "red alert" measures have been implemented in the French capital, with a high of 39C having been forecast for Paris on Saturday and 32C on Sunday.On Friday, Paris police issued a statement "prohibiting all sporting competitions and events in Paris" and warned organisers that "should they refuse, the Prefect of Police will prohibit them by decree".The Diamond League has now issued a statement saying that the Paris Police Prefecture has agreed for the event to go ahead with an adjusted schedule, while "an exceptional set of measures has been put in place to mitigate the effects of the extreme heat".Sunday's meeting at Stade Charlety will only feature competitions involving professional athletes. All activities for athletics clubs and licensed members, as well as regional competitions, have been cancelled.The measures for the Diamond League meeting include:Delaying the opening of the stadium gates to the public until 16:15 CESTAdjusting the competition schedule so that all events take place from 16:55-19:41Reinforcing medical and emergency response servicesProviding additional drinking water stations, misting stations, and shaded areasImplementing further public information and heat prevention measuresThe Diamond League statement added: "Since the beginning of this extreme weather event, the French Athletics Federation has been closely monitoring th...