AYOF2013: Records are being broken at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in the pool and Sydney city itself has experienced its equal hottest day on record.

The scorching conditions have impacted competition at the AYOF, with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) organisers activating extreme weather plans.
AOC Director of Sport Fiona de Jong said conditions were being constantly assessed with athletics, basketball, canoe/kayak and golf the sports effected today.

“With the mercury in the CBD reaching 45.3 degrees Celsius and out west 46.5, the health of these young athletes is top priority,” de Jong said.

“We are working with the competition managers of each sport to avoid heat associated issues at all venues and villages.

“Athletes and spectators are being reminded to stay well hydrated and we are monitoring all the Olympic venues and villages.”

Each sport has been reviewed resulting in competition being suspended, postponed or cancelled due to the heat.

In the city at Darling Harbour the 3-on-3 Basketball was postponed with play to resume shortly and adjustments made to Saturday's schedule.

Out at the Regatta Centre at Penrith the mercury topped 46 degrees resulting in the cancellation of the Canoe/Slalom obstacle race event, held on the flatwater. The Canoe/Kayak Sprint competition head-to-head racing was impacted resulting in 2 Gold and 2 Bronze medals awarded. The Mixed Relay was not held.

Also in Western Sydney at Twin Creeks Golf Course the second round was delayed mid round until 6am on Saturday, with the third round to follow straight after to get the event back on schedule.

The Athletics competition at Olympic Park in central Sydney was delayed and then cancelled with two sessions to be run on Saturday.

Despite being indoors the Track Cycling competition at Dunc Gray Velodrome is continuing in sweltering conditions. There were some delays due to the weather.  

At Lane Cove the Rugby Sevens games went ahead unaffected despite the oppressive heat. Competition continued as scheduled in diving, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, triathlon and weightlifting.

“This Festival is designed to provide young elite athletes with learnings for international sporting competition. Acclimatisation and heat management strategies is one particular learning all the young athletes will depart this event with!
 
“With a 44 degree temperature differential between Sydney and London today we particularly sympathise with our Team GB and other European and North American friends who left their cold winter conditions to come down under this week.”

AOC
Olympics.com.au

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