Netherlands heat cancels multiple sports events
A heat wave in the Netherlands, with temperatures forecast above 30 °C and up to 34 °C, prompted authorities to issue an orange warning and to cancel several scheduled sporting competitions for safety reasons.
In the city of Zwolle, organizers of the seventh edition of the Westenholterun and the Grand Finale of the Zwolse Tijdrit Competitie decided to call off the events after consulting the municipality, the regional safety authority and the Red Cross. More than 750 runners had registered for the run, whose proceeds were earmarked for Hospice Zwolle, while the cycling final was postponed to 27 August.
Similarly, the Interkerkelijk Voetbaltoernooi planned for 27 June at Oranje Wit in Dordrecht was canceled after the GGD and the KNVB warned that playing football on artificial turf at temperatures around 34 °C posed significant heat‑related health risks. The tournament’s canteen and volunteer duties were also halted.