IOC Presidential Hopefuls Welcome Climate-Change Call

More than 400 Olympians from nearly 90 countries around the world have joined in a call for the winner of this week's International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential election to make climate their top priority.

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The signatories to an open letter calling for IOC action on climate change range from Australia's most decorated Olympian, swimmer Emma McKeon, to Cyrille Tchatchet II, a weightlifter who represented the refugee team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

"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.

"Extreme heat is raising real concerns about whether Summer Games can be held safely in future years, and Winter Games are becoming harder to organise with reliable snow and ice conditions diminishing annually."