The second Kunak Air Quality Monitor in the IAAF’s pilot programme to measure 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 at stadiums around the world was installed at Addis Ababa Stadium on Friday (2), the project’s first in Africa.
The monitoring devices will collect real time air quality data, measuring levels of several pollutants including PM2.5 (particles), PM10, O3 and NO2, which research shows are the four main elements that have an impact on the performance of athletes.
The pilot programme, launched with the installation of the first device at the Stade Louis II in Monaco in September, is part of the IAAF’s five-year partnership with UN Environment aimed at creating greater global awareness of air pollution through the creation of an 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 network that will eventually link 1000 IAAF-certified tracks around the world.
IAAF Ambassador and UN Environment Advocate for Clean Air Haile Gebrselassie, who attended the launch, believes that today’s installation of the air quality monitor at Addis Ababa Stadium will lead to a new air pollution policy for Ethiopia.
Gebrselassie said the launch was an important occasion for those who are involved in athletics and for the community at large.
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“As the Ethiopian Athletics Federation president I am proud of the installation of the air quality device which will be used for research to identify the effect of air pollution on athlete’s performance. And it will lead us to design new policy and strategies.”
As a long-time asthmatic, Gebrselassie said, “I have canceled many competitions due to air pollution. And I was happy when the request came from the IAAF to install the device. I believe that the data will be used to save the next generation. Meanwhile, it will be devoted to draft a new policy in my country.”
IAAF Health & Science Department Director Stéphane Bermon also attended the launch, briefing the guests, who included Ethiopian Athletics Federation General Secretary Bililign Mekoya, representatives of the Ethiopian athletics and football federations and several of the country’s top track and field athletes, on the objectives of the project and the importance of data that will be collected.
Built in 1940, the Addis Ababa Stadium is a key training centre for many of the country’s leading athletes, Almaz Ayana, Tirunesh Dibaba, Genzebe Dibaba, Senbere Teferi and Selemon Barega among them.
Source: https://www.iaaf.org/news/iaaf-news/stadium-air-quality-monitor-installed-addis-a
Photo (Ethiopian Athletics Federation) © Copyright