SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Multiple sporting events around Sacramento were held Wednesday despite an Excessive Heat Warning issued by the National Weather Service.
Though temperatures were in the triple digits for some areas, parents said they feel their children should be allowed to play sports and stay outdoors to help with physical and mental health.
The fourth and final STRIDE Olympic Day was held at Rosemont High School on one of the hottest days of the year so far.
"It's just super hot and tiring,” said runner Tyler Perelman .
About 300 graduating sixth graders in the Sacramento City Unified School District participated in a series of track meets for Stride, a program partnership between the district and the Sacramento Running Association.
“We've certainly, on our operations, made some accommodations, and we've been planning as we've been tracking the weather for the last week. So just more specifically, we typically run the 400, which is one lap around the track. We've cut that to the 200 meter today," said Ellen Moore, meet director from the Sacramento Running Association.
Organizers kept a close eye on kids participating and set up water stations nearby.
While that same event was ongoing, the first day of Veolia Sacramento Open at the Life Time gym was held.
The pickleball tournament stars pro-qualifiers and amateurs.
Brian Clark, vice president for the tour, said some of the top players in the world will compete here and they want to make sure everyone is taken care of.
“Companies like Select Medical who we look to, they're here. They provide advice, they look at players, they help take care of fans,” said Clark. “We've got a great partnership with Roar, who does electrolyte drinks and provides them free to our fans and players. And we also have EMTs onsite here as well."
The event is expecting more than 900 amateur players and world class professionals to play in Sacramento — something Clark said is a good indicator of just how popular the sport is and how passionate those playing are.
"It's fantastic to think that really the heat is just another challenge to these competitors, and I think that's how they approach it,” said Clark. “Because it's not just a competitive sport, it's a very social sport, I think you'll see people taking care of each other and making sure that everyone is okay throughout the day."
The Sacramento City Unified School District said it’s in talked with sports coached to reiterate safety precautions for when they practice in the heat.
