Environmental conditions on our planet are diverse and have an impact on how humans perform at a sporting level.

Even if you train in the same place on a regular basis, your performance level can be affected by environmental factors such as heat, cold and humidity. As a result, it can be hard to achieve the same results from every workout or training session.

In some cases, reduced performance can be a result of a change in mental or physical condition but it can also be caused by environmental factors. This can make it difficult to assess the true level of each individual session.

Training in a different country can prove even more challenging as the body tries to adapt to new conditions such as extreme temperature changes or altitude.

High-Temperature Environments

When an athlete switches to training in extremely high temperatures, the body is put under extra stress. It reacts by transferring the heat back into the environment through perspiration and by moving the blood close to the skin's surface.

This heat dissipation happens naturally but, if your body is not used to the conditions, it reaches the point where it cannot compensate for the change in heat. Then, the body temperature rises and performance is lost.

If an athlete trains in these conditions over a long period of time, the body can adjust and performance can improve as temperature and heart rate are reduced.

 

High-Altitude Environments

Training at altitude can help athletes to improve their performance. In high-altitude environments (2000 metres above sea level and higher), the body takes in less oxygen, delivering less to the muscles with each breath.

Breathing this thinner air can enhance performance when the athlete competes at a lower altitude.

Athletes that live in a high-altitude environment may enjoy this advantage from a young age. It is thought that high-altitude training is one of the factors that has helped East African countries to produce so many world-class long-distance runners.

Many of these runners were born and raised at heights of 2000 metres or more at moderate temperatures. This also allows them to train at high-intensity in such conditions.

When this biomechanical efficiency is combined with high motivation and a highly-tuned training regime, they are able to excel in their sport.

It is no secret that elite athletes from low-altitude countries move to high altitude environments in an attempt to improve their low altitude performance. Some live and sleep at high altitude and then train at a lower height.

It is thought that this live high, train low philosophy is more effective than simply living and training at high altitude. This method has been used to great success by top athletes such a Mo Farah.

 

Extreme-Cold Environments

Training in extreme cold can also put a sportsperson’s body under stress. The body works hard to retain as much heat as possible by constricting blood vessels near the surface to redirect blood to the core in a process known as "vasoconstriction."

Oxygen levels are reduced and heart rate is increased to circulate the blood. This puts extra stress on the heart and can even raise blood pressure. Interaction between the brain and muscles may also slow down, affecting performance.

Athletes who are born and raised in cold climates can adapt to the conditions and reach a higher level of performance. Therefore, it is no surprise to find that athletes from colder nations dominate Winter Olympic sports.

The combination of culture, where these sports are encouraged from a young age, and environment, where training is carried out in extreme conditions, gives them an advantage.

But even these athletes are not immune from the effects of extreme cold. In fact, many elite cold-weather athletes in Scandinavia develop asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness as a result of long-term training and performing in sub-zero temperatures.

In the Netherlands, 96% of all their Olympic medals have come in speed skating events. The country is low and flat and there is a lot of water that freezes during the winter. They embraced skating early on and it has become a cultural phenomenon.

Today, the sport receives heavy investment and the athletes have responded by dominating the sport. All this, combined with the fact the Dutch are the tallest people on earth, gives them the edge.

 

Cultural Impact

In some regions, it is cultural factors rather than climatic ones which drive sporting performance. For example, Egypt has produced many top-level squash players over the last 90 years.

In the early days of competitive squash, the biggest name was Amr Bey, an Egyptian diplomat who began playing the game in England in the 1930s. He inspired many others to take up the sport and the country has not looked back since.

The sport has been well backed by the government and promising young players are given the time and resources to develop their game at the many academies that have been established across the country.

It is clear that once a nation embraces a sport and invests in infrastructure, a culture of excellence can be developed.

In Iran, wrestling has been practised for thousands of years and is still one of the country’s most popular sports. Historically, the wrestlers, known as pahlavan were seen as heroes or protectors in remote areas where there was little official authority.

The Olympic success of wrestler Gholamreza Takhti during the 1950s and 60s inspired thousands of young Iranians to take up the sport. With little cost involved, the sport is seen as being accessible to all people, whatever their income or background.

And economic factors do play a big part in the sport that a country excels at. Traditional ‘Western’ countries fare better in team sports that require higher financial commitment and greater infrastructure, while countries where there is minimal state or external support tend to fare better at individual sports, where they can train alone with little cost.

 

Conclusion

It is clear that climate and environment can play a part in boosting sports performance. But the bigger picture should also be taken into account.

The environment also drives the sporting culture, so athletes from certain areas are always more likely to take up certain sports. And with more athletes taking part, the chances of producing more champions is higher.

So, Austria is more likely to produce top skiers because residents are more likely to take up that sport. And those that do may have an advantage because of the climate they are accustomed to.

Some sports, such as football, begin in one area but are easily adopted in other countries regardless of the climate or environment. South American countries have enjoyed global success in a game that was inherited from Europe, while European countries also continued to excel.

The success of Egypt’s squash players is another example of this. There, it is less about climate and more about the way the cultural significance of the sport had prompted investment and infrastructure to produce a winning environment.

This gives players a psychological advantage. Egyptian squash players have a mental edge in the same way that Kenyan runners or Austrian skiers may have.

The sport is part of that country’s identity and they are highly motivated to maintain national dominance.

So, while climate and environment are important, they are a driver rather than a single defining factor. Genetic, cultural and psychological factors also pay a part in helping a nation reach the pinnacle of a sport.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

There are lots of big flat races coming up in the next few weeks. Here we take a look at the latest prices along with some snippets of information on each of the races.

 

Saturday 28th July - 15:00 Ascot: Gigaset International Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

The International Stakes is a seven furlong sprint for horses aged three years old and above, with all of the top stables likely to be represented.

Respected sprint trainers like Mark Johnston and Richard Hannon have to be feared.

Horses to watch: Flaming Spear (9/1), Gilgamesh (12/1), George of Hearts (12/1), II Primo Sole (12/1), Arbalet (14/1), Aces (16/1)

 

Saturday 28th July - 15:40 Ascot: King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Cracksman is likely to bypass this weekend's Ascot showpiece, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, unless there is significant rain said his trainer John Gosden.

Horses to watch: Crystal Ocean (7/4), Poet's Word (5/2), Kew Gardens (6/1), Waldgeist (9/1), Cracksman (9/1), Coronet (10/1)

 

Tuesday 31st July - 15:00 Goodwood: Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2)

Connections of Expert Eye have not ruled out the possibility of stepping him back up to a mile and supplementing him for the Qatar Sussex Stakes instead.

Expert Eye is already entered for the Group Two Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs but would have supplemented for the Group One Sussex over a mile at a cost of £70,000.

Horses to watch: Expert Eye (9/4), Tip Two Win (7/1), Sir Dancealot (9/1), Breton Rock (11/1), Yafta (12/1), Emmaus (12/1)

 

Tuesday 31st July - 15:35 Goodwood: Qatar Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Stradivarius, successful in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, heads the entries. Owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen, the four-year-old won the Qatar Goodwood Cup in 2017 and this year is chasing the Stayers' Million which carries a bonus of £1 million.

Horses to watch: Stradivarius (4/7), Order Of St George (7/2), Torcedor (5/1), Kew Gardens (6/1), Idaho (9/1), Withhold (10/1)

 

Wednesday 1st August - 15:35 Goodwood: Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Andrew Balding believes Beat The Bank is peaking just at the right time as he heads to the Glorious Goodwood meeting.

Balding was convinced the four-year-old gelding had been unlucky when sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and was happy to see him back in the winner’s circle when he took the Summer Mile back at the Berkshire track last time out.

Horses to watch: Without Parole (11/8), Saxon Warrior (5/1), Gustav Klimt (7/1), Beat The Bank (7/1), Lancaster Bomber (8/1)

 

Thursday 2nd August - 15:35 Goodwood: Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Urban Fox will attempt to complete a Group One double over a mile and a quarter when she lines up for the Nassau Stakes.

The four-year-old filly improved for the step up from a mile when she took the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

Horses to watch: Sea of Class (7/2), Happily (5/1), Urban Fox (5/1), Rhododendron (6/1), Veracious (6/1), Wild Illusion (7/1)

 

Friday 3rd August - 15:00 Goodwood: Golden Mile Handicap

Newmarket handler William Haggas looks to hold a strong hand in the £150,000 Golden Mile Handicap with his five entries including Society Power (9st 1lb), the ante-post market leader with most bookmakers.

Horses to watch: Society Power (8/1), Tigre du Terre (10/1), Curiosity (12/1), Humbert (12/1), Mubtasim (12/1)

 

Friday 3rd August - 15:35 Goodwood: King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2)

Battaash heads back to the Goodwood Festival this month in defence of his King George Stakes crown.

The Charlie Hills-trained four-year-old won the Group Two contest last season, before finishing fourth in the Nunthorpe at York and then winning the Prix de l'Abbaye.

Horses to watch: Battaash (11/8), Kachy (7/1), Sioux Nation (10/1), Fleet Review (12/1), Dreamfield (14/1), Washington Dc (14/1)

 

Saturday 4th August - 15:40 Goodwood: Stewards' Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

The ante-post favourite for this historic handicap is Dreamfield trained by John Gosden.

The Godolphin-owned four-year-old lost his unbeaten record when going down by a neck Bacchus in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Horses to watch: Dreamfield (8/1), Bacchus (12/1), Spring Loaded (12/1), Tis Marvellous (14/1), Foxtrot Lady (14/1), Emblazoned (16/1)

 

Wednesday 22nd August - 15:35 York: Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)

John Gosden has raised the possibility of Roaring Lion and Enable meeting in the Juddmonte International at York.

If both horses are fit and ready to go, Gosden would be happy for them to clash - as long as the owners of both horses were happy the decision.

Horses to watch: Roaring Lion (10/3), Enable (7/2), Poet's Word (5/1), Masar (8/1), Saxon Warrior (8/1), Cracksman (8/1), Without Parole (12/1)

 

Friday 24th August - 15:35 York: Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Blue Point has emerged as a major contender for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Sent off the 5-2 favourite for the Darley July Cup having won the King's Stand Stakes, he could only finish seventh behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained US Navy Flag.

Horses to watch: Battassh (7/4), Blue Point (5/1), U S Navy Flag (8/1), Finsbury Square (10/1), Sioux Nation (10/1)

 

Saturday 25th August - 15:40 York: The Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

The Ebor Handicap at the end of the month is a possible target for the Willie Mullins-trained Stratum after the five-year-old won the inaugural running of the JLT Cup at Newbury.

Horses to watch: Stratum (6/1), Withhold (10/1), Chelkar (12/1), Hamada (12/1), Dash Of Spice (16/1), Limini (16/1)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The World Cup has barely finished, but we are already onto the second legs of some Champions League qualifiers. Minnows meet giants in this early phase, often leaving us with extravagant scorelines.

Here are a few thoughts and tips on four of the upcoming qualifiers…

CELTIC vs ALASHKERT FC

Alashkert, the reigning Armenian champions, could not live with Celtic in the first leg, falling to a 3-0 defeat. The club was only re-founded as recently as 2011 but have been involved in European qualification in the last four seasons, though they have never made it to the group phases.

Brendan Rodgers has worked wonders since moving north of the border. Celtic are a good side to watch – as anyone would expect with Rodgers – and have cruised their way to domestic glory. Cracking their European woe is the next step, however, and this is the first station on that path.

Expect goals from the hosts here. This one could get out of hand...

TIP: Over 2.5 home goals

CORRECT SCORE: Celtic 4-1 Alashkert FC

 

RED STAR BELGRADE vs FK SPARTAKS

FK Spartaks have never made it past the second round of European qualifying. Holding the mighty Red Star to a first leg draw could be argued as one of their greatest achievements. It will be a markedly different challenge at the hostile Marakana, however.

The Belgradian giants were a good watch when they faced Arsenal in the Europa League last season but are short on quality. Despite that, they won yet another Serbian title last term and are the massive favourites to make it through here. Once a European superpower, Red Star will always attract attention, even when their football is subpar.

It was goalless in Latvia. Few will bet on a similar result back in the Serbian capital, where the hosts should win fairly comfortably.

TIP: Over 2.5 home goals

CORRECT SCORE: Red Star Belgrade 3-0 FK Spartaks

 

LEGIA WARSAW vs CORK CITY

Remarkably, Cork City held Legia Warsaw to a 1-0 deficit in the first leg in Ireland. Heading back to Poland, things look bleak for Cork, who need a miracle to turn this around. Legia have appeared in the Champions League group stages as recently as 2016.

Cork have already had success in Europe this season. Not on the pitch, but financially. The club are guaranteed close to one million euros just for competing in Champions League qualifying, a simply enormous sum for a club of their stature.

Unfortunately, this could get ugly. The gap in quality should be clearer for the Polish club on home soil.

TIP: Legia Warsaw to win @ 1/5

CORRECT SCORE: Legia Warsaw 4-0 Cork City

 

ROSENBORG vs VALUR REYKJAVIK

Rosenborg have a proud history in Norwegian football. The last time they finished outside the top three domestically was back in 2008, winning five titles over that span. They are a regular in European football and progressed from their Europa League group last season.

Valur are an Icelandic side who – against the odds – snatched a victory in the first leg thanks to a late goal from Eidur Sigurbjornsson. They are the underdogs once again here but showed resilience on home soil to take an advantage to Norway.

Rosenborg should just have enough to get this done. It could be tight, though, particularly after they struggled to create chances in the first leg.

TIP: Rosenborg to win @ 1/6

CORRECT SCORE: Rosenborg 3-1 Valur Reykjavik

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*