It is a monument of the tennis season which is threatened. The Australian Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, is slated to start on Monday January 20 in Melbourne, in the midst of the Australian forest fire crisis that killed at least 27 people and a billion animals. . Toxic air pollution clouded the city on Tuesday, January 14, interrupting training sessions and slightly delaying qualifications. With, in the background, several fundamental questions.
• What are the dangers ?
Air pollution is the main threat to the first major tournament of the season. The smoke from the monster fires, coupled with the very high temperatures of the Australian summer, could have an impact on the health of players and spectators.
Authorities in Melbourne described the level of air pollution as "dangerous" and asked residents to stay shut in their homes with their windows closed and their pets.
Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic had to withdraw from the qualifying round on Tuesday, suffering from coughing fits on the court. "I was really afraid of passing out [...] It is not healthy for us" to play in these conditions, said the 180th player.
The director of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley, has always said to date that he expects the tournament to go as planned.
• Can the situation get worse?
The fires east of Melbourne are likely to burn throughout the tournament, giving off more and more thick smoke. "Everything will depend on the winds, said Christine Jenkins, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, to AFP. Are we going to have new periods of high pollution? The question remains open."
Air quality monitors on Tuesday recorded pollution 20 times greater than safety levels in parts of Melbourne.
• What are the health risks ?
The pollution "increases the risks of respiratory symptoms but also of cardiovascular problems, eye irritations and mental disorders", warned Professor Yuming Guo, head of the research department on climate and air quality at Monash University of Melbourne. "It can affect the performance of the players."
"Proper hydration prevents drying of the respiratory membranes and slows down irritation," also reminds Professor Jenkins.
• How are players protected?
Meteorology and air quality experts will be on site at Melbourne Park to monitor the pollution. At the slightest alert, the same system will be applied as for very hot weather, with the immediate suspension of matches.
In addition, the complex where the Australian Open takes place has three courts with a retractable roof as well as eight indoor courts which would, in fact, be less affected by air pollution.
• Is the Australian Open likely to be canceled?
Very unlikely. Even if air pollution increases sharply, organizers will find it difficult to cancel one of the main sporting events of the year in Australia, one of the four major tournaments of the season with the US Open, Roland -Garros and Wimbledon.
If they were nevertheless resolved, there would be no financial problem, the tournament being protected by insurance companies, according to the Australian press.
Professor Guo believes, however, that the organizers should make the decision "to postpone or cancel the tournament if the air pollution remains high".
"People who play or train are more affected than others by air pollution because they inhale deeply and thus force the air to enter deep into their respiratory system, where the pollution accumulate and stay longer, "he said.
• Have other events been impacted?
Air pollution last month prevented two sports competitions, also due to lack of visibility: a sailing race in Sydney Bay and a cricket match in Canberra.
In November, the Rally Australia, the last stop in the FIA World Rally Championship, was canceled. At the Australian Golf Open in Sydney last month, players complained of itchy eyes, and 2015 champion Matt Jones said conditions were among the worst he has ever had. encountered.
But most of the sporting events have taken place. Australia has played cricket matches against New Zealand in Melbourne and Sydney. And, for 10 days, the ATP Cup was held in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, without serious problems.
With AFP
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