Japan's killer heatwave sparks Olympics daylight saving calls

A record-breaking heatwave in Japan has renewed calls for daylight saving time to be introduced ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

At least 120 people have died since July across the country, and the capital Tokyo recorded temperatures above 40C for the first time ever late last month.

As concerns about the weather rise with the temperatures, the country is considering implementing daylight saving in coming years, local newspaper Sankei Shimbun reported yesterday.

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"It is not true that the government has decided to aim for adopting daylight saving time," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference, according to the BBC.

"We plan broad measures such as earlier start times, more greenery and heat-inhibiting pavements," he added

He added that the decision to reintroduce daylight saving would have a major impact on people's lives.

However, concerns about athletes' health still remain, especially as the Games will be held during the country's hottest months.

Often temperatures have climbed about 30C before noon, and the heat is made more difficult to handle because of high humidity.

Yoshiro Mori, the president of the Tokyo Olympic Organising Committee, met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week to discuss the possibility of introducing daylight saving time during the 2020 Games.

The International Olympic Committee decided this month the marathon would be staged at 7 a.m. to lessen the effect of extreme heat.

Mori said after the meeting the prime minister said putting clocks forward one or two hours during the games "may be one solution".

The 2020 Olympics are scheduled to run from July 24 to August 9.

- With AP