Running for Clean Air: measuring the impact of air quality on sports

The air qualityAir quality refers to the state of the air we breathe and its composition in terms of pollutants present in the atmosphere. It is considered good when poll...
Read more is a determinant factor in achieving sports goals as it directly impacts the health of athletes. Air pollution can alter lung capacity, increase thermal stress, and reduce muscle oxygenation, which directly impacts performance and recovery capacity of athletes.

Wherever the air is cleaner, its optimal quality not only contributes to improving lung capacity but also boosts athletic performance. Aware of this reality, the international organization World Athletics, together with Kunak, is jointly developing initiatives in several cities around the world to monitor air quality in sports environments. The goal is to facilitate decision-making to improve air quality during the world’s most important sporting events.

World Athletics and its commitment to clean air

World Athletics, the governing body of global athletics, is developing the World Athletics Air Quality Project, a program that, since its launch in 2018, aims to evaluate and improve air quality in cities.

Since the installation of the first Kunak monitoring network in September of that year at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco, subsequent air quality installations were made in 2018 in stadiums in Addis Ababa, Sydney, Mexico City, and Yokohama.

 

A global network that continues to grow to monitor air quality and will eventually connect dozens of World Athletics tracks around the world.

This initiative is part of a broad global campaign to raise awareness about the importance of air pollution and its impact on both elite athletes and amateur runners. Around 1.4 billion people run regularly worldwide, making them particularly vulnerable to the risk of exposure to air pollution, a silent killer that, according to the World Health Organization, claims more than 7 million lives each year.

Control of air pollution at the Paris 2024 Olympics

World Athletics’ goals in the fight for clean air

The objectives of the World Athletics Air Quality Project include:

• Data collection to support the scientific evidence of the effect of air pollution on sports performance and health in general.
• Raising awareness to advocate for clean air by providing real-time air quality information. This information is accessible to facilitate the adoption of social policies and promote solutions to air pollution. It also supports awareness campaigns among the public to reduce exposure to air pollution in relevant places for running or walking.
• Collaboration with non-governmental organizations, and strategic partners to create a global database on air quality and ongoing mitigation initiatives related to sporting events.
• Utilizing Kunak air quality sensorMeasuring air quality is essential for improving human and environmental health. Changes in the natural composition of the air we breathe are common in ind...
  Read more network data collaboratively with local governments and other existing environmental monitoring networks to create data sets that allow World Athletics to advise on the best times to participate in sports at each location.

A member of the Running for Clean Air project team next to a Kunak AIR Pro station installed on a street lamp in Warsaw, holding a phone displaying real-time air quality data

World Athletics and the cities of the future

Continuing its efforts to promote clean air for sport and health, World Athletics is fostering the creation of a better world by driving healthier cities through its initiative Running for Clean Air. This is supported by the Clean Air Fund and in collaboration with Kunak, which provides its advanced air quality sensors, strategically installed in areas where urban marathons are held, to collect data on air quality and thermal stress that more than one million runners are exposed to each year.

Running for Clean Air is an initiative by World Athletics with the goal of addressing air pollution in urban areas. World Athletics works with local actors to measure air quality at a hyperlocal level and share the data in a large awareness campaign, using urban marathons as a key platform to leverage existing runner communities, drive positive transformations in cities, and raise awareness about air quality issues. More information is available on the project website.

With installations in the cities of Lagos (Nigeria) and Warsaw (Poland), the organization is taking an innovative approach to act and raise awareness about the importance of clean air for health and athletic performance, promoting environmental policies that reduce air pollution factors. These initiatives also aim to engage local governments and sports federations to prioritize air quality in their urban development strategies and the planning of events in general, with special oversight for sporting events like urban marathons.

In the city of Warsaw, the Running for Clean Air initiative installed the Kunak monitoring network to detect the best atmospheric conditions during the 2024 urban marathon. Additionally, air quality sensors were installed in an urban park, and the data collected over months showed that Friday is the worst day of the week for exercising in Warsaw due to high levels of ozone and other atmospheric pollutants like particulate matter, compared to Sundays and Mondays, when the air is cleaner. The recurrent urban atmospheric pollution pattern over the five months of data collection reaches its worst point for physical activity between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM each day.

 

Sport has the power to unite people around important social and environmental issues, such as air pollution. It also demonstrates that communities truly care about the air they breathe and that, with support and the right data, they can make a positive difference. Jane Burston, CEO and Founder of Clean Air Fund and Stéphane Bermon, Director of Health and Science Department, World Athletics.

In the port city of Lagos, the Running for Clean Air initiative was launched in August 2024 with the aim of studying ideal environmental conditions for the February 15, 2025 marathon.

The Kunak monitoring network in Lagos is installed in the Surulere National Stadium. Air quality measurements can be followed live and each month an environmental report is published analyzing the data of atmospheric pollutants and environmental variables, such as temperature and humidity, obtained by the monitoring network in the sports area to ensure optimal environmental conditions for athletes.

In the below video we can see the PM₁₀ data collected by a Kunak AIR Pro device in motion during the celebration of the marathon on 15 February 2025 in Lagos:

Kunak’s eechnology serving sport

Kunak’s outstanding expertise in air quality monitoringControlling air quality is an essential task in order to enjoy optimal environmental conditions for healthy human development and to keep the environment i...
Read more, based on precise sensors that determine various air pollutantsAir pollution caused by atmospheric contaminants is one of the most critical and complex environmental problems we face today, both because of its global r...
Read more as well as different environmental parameters, has enabled the implementation of advanced solutions to measure pollution at large-scale sporting events.

Since 2018, when World Athletics trusted Kunak’s solutions to monitor air quality at several sporting events, the commitment to both sport and air quality has been growing. From that point on, the joint collaboration led to Tokyo 2020 being the first Olympic Games where air quality was analyzed.

The analysis of the data provided by Kunak’s measurement systems allows for a quick response to the on-site conditions. This can include reviewing routes and competition schedules to avoid periods of high pollution and mitigate its effects, as well as ensuring that competitions take place under ideal atmospheric conditions that are equal for all participants. This was done in the women’s marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in the city of Sapporo. Based on the collected data, the race time was moved up by one hour to prevent athletes from being exposed to unsuitable weather conditions.

 

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More recently, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Kunak AIR Pro stations have been crucial in assessing the levels of pollution and heat stress that athletes have been subjected to, allowing adjustments to be made to the conditions of the events to protect the health of the athletes.

Kunak AIR Pro air quality stationsAir quality stations are systems dedicated to monitoring atmospheric pollution, essential for measuring the concentration of pollutants in a specific area....
Read more were also used earlier, more than a year before, ahead of the Paris global sporting event. This occurred during the construction phase of the Olympic Village, where they were employed to monitor the environmental impact of the building works for the village itself.

Additionally, in collaboration with Airparif (an organisation that monitors air quality in Ile-de-France, one of Paris’ most populated districts), Kunak’s advanced air quality sensors have been used to validate the reduction in pollution during the Olympic Games through innovative air filtration systems.

The study focused on the seven shading units by Aérophile installed at the Olympic Village, five of which were equipped with air purifiers. Apart from providing shade in the outdoor space of the Place des Athlètes, the system ventilates and simultaneously filters the air to improve its quality. Kunak’s air quality sensors, installed above and below these installations, once calibrated, were used to estimate the concentration of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) present and to determine the effectiveness of these innovative systems in reducing air pollution. Analysis of the data provided by the Kunak measurement systems has concluded in a 20% reduction in pollution under the shading units when weather conditions are favourable for the filtration systems to be active.

This achievement was possible because Kunak stations provide real-time data on various pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3). The monitoring stations transmit information in real time for analysis on the Kunak AIR Cloud platform. Thanks to this precise and powerful air quality analysis software, predictive models are created and customised solutions are designed for the most demanding needs, such as preserving athletes’ health.

Here is the full report edited by Airparif (in French):

Kunak’s collaboration with World Athletics has also monitored events such as the World Athletics Championship in Budapest 2023, providing real-time data that has helped with strategic decision-making.

Kunak AIR systems have intervened to improve other sporting events such as the Valencia marathon, held in December 2019; or the Diamond League that took place the same year in Monaco, where air quality data was shared in real time with athletes and the public; as well as in Mexico City during the August 2019 marathon and at the Addis Ababa athletics stadium (Ethiopia), where Kunak has been collaborating since 2018 to improve the conditions in which elite and amateur athletes train and compete.

Additionally, measurement stations were installed in Nairobi to monitor atmospheric conditions for the World Athletics U20 Championships, which was scheduled for July 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic.

Furthermore, environmental condition control in sports areas has supported research that, with data provided by Kunak monitoring networks, has underpinned scientific advances as occurred in the 2019 World Relay Championships in Yokohama (Japan), which led to the publication of a scientific article in ‘Science of the Total Environment’ in February 2020.

Kunak’s monitoring capabilities not only benefit athletes but also organizers and the general public. Continuous and real-time measurement allows for the establishment of patterns and the analysis of the best times of the day to train or compete, ensuring healthier environments for sports practice. At the same time, it also helps to promote the development of public policies focused on reducing air pollution in urban areas.

How air quality and thermal stress are measured

As part of Running for Clean Air, the installation of air quality sensors in each participating city allows for the collection of information on local pollution and thermal stress. If the city already has air quality sensor systems, the new sensors promoted by World Athletics, in collaboration with Kunak, add a unique perspective due to their hyperlocal approach. Positioned strategically about 2 meters above the ground, they precisely capture the air quality to which people exercising are exposed.

The collection of air quality data is carried out in two distinct phases:

1. STATIC: During the six months prior to the celebration of sporting events like the urban marathon, the device records data at a fixed location to gather background information and identify local pollution trends and environmental parameters.

The locations chosen for installing Kunak sensors are areas frequently visited by people exercising outdoors, such as parks, riverbanks, or promenades. These locations are called Urban Clean Air Training Areas.

2. DYNAMIC: Real-time dynamically monitored during the marathon to detect fluctuations in air quality along the race route and at the finish line.

This is a scientifically validated methodology developed by the Health and Science Department of World Athletics, led by Stéphane Bermon, MD, PhD, and Paolo Emilio Adami, MD, PhD.

During these measurements, the Kunak AIR Pro devices measure air pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NO, NO₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂)Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere and plays a crucial role in the life processes of the planet. This gas, also known as...
Read more, carbon monoxide (CO)The carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible gas (colorless and odorless) that, at the same time, is a silent killer because in just a few minutes it exhibits ...
Read more, and tropospheric ozoneTropospheric ozone (O3) or ground-level ozone is a gas found in the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, the troposphere, which extends up to 10 kilomet...
Read more (O₃), and particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀); as well as climatic variables such as temperature, humidity, dew point, and wind direction.

Hourly averages of the measured values translate into the Air Quality Index and Thermal Stress Index, and they can be viewed online at any time. Additionally, the World Athletics team prepares monthly reports with detailed data and analysis, which are available for local stakeholders of the project.

The impact of pollution on athletes

Elite athletes will increasingly compete under the effects of extreme heat conditions driven by global warming. In addition to longer heat waves, episodes of atmospheric pollution are on the rise.

Exposure to air pollution can lead to respiratory problems, lung inflammation, and decreased efficiency in oxygen uptake through the airways, which impairs the performance and recovery of athletes. In high-performance scenarios, such as the Olympic Games or World Championships, these factors can make the difference between success and failure in events, as well as breaking records. Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to elevated levels of atmospheric pollution reduces the aerobic capacity of athletes and, on the contrary, increases fatigue, decreasing their ability to compete at their highest potential.

Thanks to Kunak’s technology and World Athletics initiatives, athletes can rely on precise data to minimize the risks associated with air pollution. Moreover, these actions promote a shift in sports event planning, encouraging more sustainable and healthy environments. The information gathered benefits not only elite athletes but also amateur runners and people who exercise in urban environments, who are often unaware of the harmful effects of atmospheric pollution on their health.

Conclusion

Breathing should not harm your health. Air quality monitoring and control is also a priority for high-performance sports. Companies like Kunak and global sports organizations like World Athletics are leading the way to achieve safer and healthier competitions. It is where athletes can give their best without pollution diminishing their performance. Technological innovation and environmental commitment are key to ensuring the future of sports in a world that is increasingly aware and responsible regarding the importance of clean air.

As these initiatives continue to expand, it is expected that more cities will adopt similar strategies, ensuring that sports are practiced under optimal conditions and that future generations of athletes can train and compete without pollution compromising their performance and affecting their health.