The Games are in Tokyo, which traditionally experiences very hot temperatures in July. The average temperature for the past decade on the day the Games open, July 24, is 87.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Add that to the city's propensity for high summer humidity, and it has organizers concerned.

Organizers already have at their disposal a number of contingencies, mist towers and hydration stations among them. Stadiums have been designed to keep cool air in the stands and on the track and field. Eager to add another weapon against the heat, organizers tested an artificial snow machine by showering a seated crowd with fake snow. The test was done at the Sea Forest Waterway, where many canoe and kayaking events will take place. The result was no significant change in the temperature inside the venue. Whether further tests take place remains to be seen.

One strategy that organizers have already put in place has to be do with scheduling. Some events are set to begin in the early morning hours; for example, the marathon will begin at 6 a.m. Organizers also asked the city to implement a two-hour daylight-saving period; a final decision on that proposal has yet to be made.

Another strategy will require a change in the rules. Currently, fans are prohibited from bringing their own umbrellas because of concerns over sponsorship. The 2020 Games will offer umbrella hats for sale, and officials are considering lifting the ban on fan-brought umbrellas, for the 2020 Games only.

Aware of the possibility of high heat, officials as early as 2018 were contemplating such strategies, including the spraying of a mist on the road that would reflect heat and ultraviolet rays. Asphalt commonly retains heat, increasing the temperature of the roads.

Tokyo has played host to the Summer Olympics before. The 1964 Games began in mid-October.