Organisers of 2019 Herculis EBS IAAF Diamond League meeting on Friday, July 12, are aiming to not only host another spectacular edition but also, for the first time in athletics history, to produce an event where the stadium’s air quality will take centre stage.
Through a collaborative effort between the Monegasque Ministry of Environment, the Monegasque Athletics Federation (FMA), the IAAF and Stade Louis II, where air quality monitoring devices have been installed, athletes and spectators will be able to view the stadium’s live air quality data delivered in real time via the meeting’s website. The objective is to bring about greater awareness about air pollution, a silent killer that claims the lives of seven million people each year, according to figures from the World Health Organisation.
Heeding the call for urgent action, the United Nations declared air pollution as a theme for 2019 and this FMA initiative is one significant way through which athletics has become involved.
With the effects of climate change and air pollution increasingly making headlines around the world, the FMA initiative illustrates how sport can play an important role in bringing greater awareness about environmental issues.
“I am very happy about this project because it is great progress for athletes’ health as well as spectators,” said meeting director Jean-Pierre Schoebel. “Air quality is something that we should all be concerned about and I hope that this project succeeds and that we will continue it next year for the 34th edition of our meet.”
PHOTO: Prince Albert was on hand to witness the installation of the air quality measuring system © Phillippe Fitte SOURCE: IAAF
