世界杯观察：高温成了这届世界杯一个绕不开的难题

这个对手，就是炎热的天气。

This opponent is the hot weather.

本届世界杯在美国、加拿大和墨西哥三个国家举行，比赛时间正好是北半球的夏天。

This World Cup is held across three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico — and the timing falls right in the northern hemisphere's summer.

而夏天的北美洲，很多地方都酷热难当，气温常常居高不下。

And in summer, many parts of North America are scorching, with temperatures often staying stubbornly high.

正因为如此，"高温"成了这届世界杯一个绕不开的话题。

For precisely this reason, "extreme heat" has become an unavoidable topic at this World Cup.

有气候科学家研究后指出，本届世界杯里，大约每四场比赛，就有一场是在威胁健康的高温下进行的。

After research, climate scientists have pointed out that at this World Cup, roughly one in every four matches is played in heat that threatens health.

在全部十六个举办城市当中，有九个城市被认为是"高温高风险"地区。

Of all sixteen host cities, nine are considered "extreme-heat-risk" areas.

这些城市包括迈阿密、达拉斯、休斯顿、亚特兰大、堪萨斯城等等。

These cities include Miami, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City, and more.

在这些地方，夏天白天的气温常常超过三十五摄氏度，加上太阳直射，体感会更热。

In these places, summer daytime temperatures often exceed 35 degrees Celsius, and with direct sun, it feels even hotter.

试想一下，在这样的环境里连续奔跑九十分钟，是一件多么辛苦的事。

Just imagine how exhausting it is to run continuously for 90 minutes in an environment like that.

我们普通人即便坐着不动，也会满身大汗，更何况是在场上全力拼抢的球员。

We ordinary people are drenched in sweat even sitting still, let alone players going all-out on the pitch.

高温不仅让人疲惫，还会带来真正的健康风险，比如中暑、脱水，甚至更严重的问题。

Heat not only makes people exhausted but also brings real health risks, such as heatstroke, dehydration, and even more serious problems.

事实上，在去年的一项类似赛事中，炎热就已经给球员和球迷带来了不少麻烦。

In fact, at a similar event last year, the heat had already caused plenty of trouble for players and fans alike.

有了那次的经验，人们对这届世界杯的高温问题，格外重视。

With that experience in hand, people are paying especially close attention to the heat issue at this World Cup.

为了应对炎热，赛事的组织者采取了不少措施。

To cope with the heat, the organizers have taken a number of measures.

其中最重要的一项，就是"补水暂停"，也就是在比赛中途停下来，让球员补充水分。

The most important of these is the "hydration break" — that is, stopping midway through the match to let players take on water.

在过去，只有当气温超过某个标准时，才会安排这样的暂停。

In the past, such a break was only scheduled when the temperature exceeded a certain standard.

国际足联通常把这个标准定在一个比较高的温度上。

FIFA usually sets this standard at a relatively high temperature.

而球员组织则认为，这个标准定得太高了，应该在更低的温度时就开始保护球员。

But the players' organization believes the standard is set too high, and that protecting players should begin at a lower temperature.

也正因为各方的呼声，本届世界杯做出了改变。

And precisely because of voices from all sides, this World Cup made a change.

这一次，无论天气热不热，每个半场都会固定安排一次补水暂停。

This time, no matter whether the weather is hot or not, each half has a fixed hydration break.

这几分钟看上去很短，但对球员来说却非常关键。

These few minutes may look short, but for players they're crucial.

喝一口水，擦一把汗，他们就能恢复一部分体力和注意力。

A sip of water, a wipe of sweat, and they can recover part of their stamina and concentration.

在高温下，球员的体力消耗得特别快，注意力也很容易下降。

In the heat, players burn through their energy especially fast, and their concentration drops easily too.

有了这样的暂停，比赛的质量和球员的安全，都能得到一些保障。

With a break like this, both the quality of the match and the players' safety can be somewhat safeguarded.

除此之外，组织者还把一部分比赛安排在傍晚或者晚上进行。

Beyond this, the organizers have also scheduled some matches in the evening or at night.

太阳落山之后，气温会明显下降，球员踢起来会舒服很多。

After the sun goes down, temperatures drop noticeably, and players are much more comfortable.

另外，有一些球场本身带有顶棚，甚至装有空调，场内非常凉爽。

In addition, some stadiums have roofs, and even air conditioning, making the interior very cool.

在这样的球场里比赛，几乎不必担心高温的影响。

Playing in a stadium like this, there's almost no need to worry about the heat.

不过，问题在于，并不是所有比赛都能安排在凉快的时间和场地。

However, the problem is that not all matches can be scheduled at cool times and venues.

仍然有相当多的比赛，必须在白天的烈日下进行。

There are still quite a few matches that must be played under the daytime blazing sun.

有人可能会问：那为什么不干脆把所有比赛都放在晚上呢？

Someone might ask: then why not just put all the matches at night?

原因其实很现实：世界各地的球迷，作息时间各不相同。

The reason is actually very practical: fans around the world keep different hours.

把比赛安排在白天，往往是为了照顾欧洲、亚洲等地观众的收看时间。

Scheduling matches during the day is often to accommodate the viewing times of audiences in Europe, Asia and elsewhere.

可是这样一来，球员就不得不在一天中最热的时候上场。

But this means players have no choice but to take the field at the hottest time of day.

正因为如此，不少球员和专家都公开表达了担忧。

For precisely this reason, many players and experts have publicly voiced their concerns.

他们呼吁，未来在安排赛程时，应该把球员的健康放在更重要的位置。

They call for player health to be placed in a more important position when scheduling future tournaments.

也有人建议，把补水暂停的时间再延长一些，甚至延长中场休息的时间。

Some also suggest extending the hydration breaks a bit more, and even lengthening the half-time break.

还有人提出，最热的几场比赛，应该尽量避开中午前后的时段。

Others propose that the hottest matches should, as much as possible, avoid the period around midday.

值得注意的是，受到高温影响的，远不止球员。

It's worth noting that those affected by the heat are far from only the players.

那些专程到现场看球的球迷，同样要长时间坐在闷热的看台上。

The fans who travel specially to watch in person also have to sit for long stretches in stifling stands.

有些看台没有遮阳的顶棚，太阳直接照射，温度非常高。

Some stands have no shade, with the sun beating straight down and temperatures running very high.

他们也面临着中暑的风险，因此同样需要多喝水、多注意防暑。

They face the risk of heatstroke too, and so likewise need to drink more water and guard against the heat.

为此，球场里通常会准备充足的饮用水，并设置一些可以乘凉的区域。

For this, stadiums usually prepare ample drinking water and set up some areas where people can cool off in the shade.

说到这里，我们或许会重新理解这届世界杯。

At this point, we might come to understand this World Cup anew.

在这里，每支球队真正的对手，其实不止是另一支球队。

Here, every team's true opponent is actually not only another team.

炎热的天气，成了所有人共同面对的挑战。

The hot weather has become a challenge everyone faces together.

谁能在高温下保持更好的状态，谁往往就更有机会笑到最后。

Whoever can keep better form in the heat often has more of a chance to have the last laugh.

所以，当我们观看比赛时，也不妨多一份理解。

So when we watch the matches, we might as well bring a little more understanding.

那些在烈日下奋力奔跑的球员，确实非常了不起。

Those players running their hearts out under a blazing sun are truly remarkable.

他们要战胜的，不只是对手，还有让人难以忍受的炎热。

What they have to overcome is not only their opponent, but also a heat that is hard to bear.

从某种意义上说，能在这样的天气里坚持到最后，本身就值得尊敬。

In a sense, simply holding on until the end in weather like this is itself worthy of respect.

这也提醒着我们，足球不只是技术和战术，有时还和大自然有关。

This also reminds us that football is not only about technique and tactics — sometimes it also has to do with nature.

当然，无论如何，最重要的始终是安全。

Of course, whatever happens, the most important thing is always safety.

对球员也好，对球迷也好，健康永远比一场比赛的胜负更重要。

Whether for players or fans, health is forever more important than the outcome of a single match.

希望这届世界杯，所有人都能在享受足球的同时，平平安安。

I hope at this World Cup, everyone can be safe and sound while enjoying the football.

也希望从这届世界杯开始，人们在办大型比赛时，能更早地把天气考虑进去。

And I hope that, starting from this World Cup, people will factor in the weather earlier when organizing major tournaments.

好了，关于世界杯与高温的话题，我们就聊到这里，下次再见。

Alright, that's where we'll leave the topic of the World Cup and extreme heat. See you next time.