Dylan Bettencourt
As the Commonwealth Games come to a close, athletes have spoken out about the impact the climate catastrophe is having on their home nations.
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge put the effects of climate change into perspective as he revealed how his nation battles the crisis.
“Where I live and train high in the Kenyan countryside, nearly 80% of the population are farmers,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“People know that the rains are no longer the same as five years ago and that climate change is real.”
The iconic marathon runner said the global change in temperatures affects athletes too.
“It has an effect on the athletes. Climate change is pushing hard in some countries and it is not possible to run for two, three hours. For a marathon runner It is really sad,” he said.
“Running in hotter environments is so hard. It is scary how, at the end of a session or race, you feel all your energy has gone.”
Sevens rugby player Eroni Sau spoke about how rising sea levels are literally shrinking his home nation of Fiji.
“In my mother’s village, there was a building that was a kitchen and bathroom block. When I was a kid it was 10 metres away from the beach. But it isn’t there any more.
“All you can see of it are the foundations that are now under the sea,” he said.
Swimmer Mubal Azzam from the Maldives said more and more houses are being flooded each year.
“On many islands in the Maldives houses have been flooded and there are issues with erosion,” Azzam said.
“In the capital Male where I have lived for most of my life, we have artificial beaches that the public can use. But there has been a very huge change in the disposition of sand with a lot of erosion in one area. The whole topography has changed.”
Image source: @iNews
