Organizers of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan is testing artificial snow machines to lower heat and humidity levels at the event next summer.
The Tokyo Olympics organizers used machines to spray about 300 kilograms of artificial snow over stands to lower heat and humidity at the Sea Forest Waterway, which will host Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events next year. Temperatures in Tokyo can reach around 35 degrees Celsius and 80% humidity so organizers hope to keep spectators cool and comfortable and avoid heatstroke.
Plans for a full roof for the venue were canceled due to cost cutting so half of the 2,000 sets are uncovered. The snow machine test, which lasted for five minutes, involved having members of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizing committee occupying the stands during a test event for the canoe sprints.
Previously, the machines were used at music festivals and were able to cover an area of 15 meters in windy conditions. The machines, whose cost have not been disclosed, produce snow by crushing ice and mixing it with air.
Unfortunately, test results were not what the committee hoped for as the temperature at the venue remained at 25.1C before and after spraying snow. According to Takashi Okamura, head of communication, command and control on the organizing committee, the result was not they forecast but it had other merits. He pointed out "The advantage of this machine is having a spray device to help the audience feel refreshed - and the amusement factor."
Tomoaki Matsumoto, an official in the committee's venue services department, said Today is just a first trial. But it is possible for us to use it." The organizers have tried various methods for cooling, including misting machines and umbrella-shaped hats.
In 2018, the Japanese government declared a natural disaster after at least 65 deaths from heat-related incidents while in July 2019, over 5,000 people sought hospital attention during a heatwave.
