Representative Image: The recently concluded Roland-Garros in Paris was also affected by extreme heat, with players forced to deal with difficult conditions on court. | Photo Credit: AP

Paris police authorities on Friday requested the cancellation of this weekend’s Diamond League track and field meeting in the French capital because of the historic heatwave gripping the country and stretching emergency services.

Citing the exceptional heat that has affected Paris since June 21, the police prefecture said it had asked organisers of Sunday’s meet, along with other events scheduled for the weekend, including a music festival and a Pride march, to cancel.

The prefecture said it would impose an order if the organisers did not agree voluntarily, with emergency services required to focus their efforts on protecting the most vulnerable people.

Noah Lyles, Femke Bol and Armand “Mondo” Duplantis were among the athletes expected to compete in Paris.

The French athletics federation, which organises the meet, told The Associated Press that it had not yet received the order.

Organisers had said in a statement on Thursday that they still planned to stage the meet in an adapted format.

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“The safety of athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators remains our absolute priority,” the organisers said. “As a result, only elite athletes will be permitted to compete at the Paris Meeting, in accordance with this exemption. This adaptation ensures that the event can proceed while maintaining the highest possible standards of safety.”

The average temperature recorded across 30 weather stations by Meteo-France on Thursday reached 30 degrees Celsius again, matching the nationwide record for the hottest day set the previous day.

More than three-quarters of France has been placed under a red weather alert for the first time.

Published on Jun 26, 2026