IOC Takes Note as Toxic Air and Poor Indoor Facilities Hit Indian Sports

Summary: Coaches and athletes warn that pollution and insufficient weatherproof training facilities put performance and health at risk.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has acknowledged the increasing concerns from Indian athletes and coaches regarding air pollution and insufficient indoor sports facilities, highlighting a persistent problem in the nation's sports.

Several foreign players expressed health concerns about the dirty air in Delhi during the recent India Open badminton tournament, claiming that it impaired their breathing and performance. Some even contacted the IOC Athletes’ Commission directly with complaints, and the committee confirmed it “has received the information and is in touch” with relevant parties, signalling serious international attention to the issue.

It’s not just badminton. Coaches and athletes across a wide range of disciplines — hockey, athletics, boxing, wrestling and more — describe a bleak picture. At training hubs such as the Sports Authority of India centre in Sonepat, players have endured dust and toxic air that leaves them coughing and repeatedly falling ill, according to hockey coach Pritam Siwach. 

For athletes who must train outdoors, the winter months present a double burden: pollution spikes that can make breathing difficult and indoor spaces that are not weather-proof or adequately ventilated. Decathlete Tejaswin Shankar said that training in Delhi’s winter smog has become less about grit and more about simply coping with bad air — prompting him to relocate his base first to Bhubaneswar and then abroad in search of healthier conditions.

The problem stretches beyond seasonal peaks. In northern India, summer temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius, making outdoor training challenging. Also, the indoor venues sometimes lack proper air filtration or climate control, failing to keep athletes safe from high temps or contaminated air.

Neeraj Chopra, a former Olympic champion, has called training under such circumstances "extremely difficult," and many other athletes agree.

Health experts warn that breathing polluted air during intense training isn’t just uncomfortable — it cuts into performance capacity, strains the lungs and can have long-term consequences for heart and brain health. Proposals to push training to cleaner locations or upgrade facilities are gaining strength among athletes, coaches and some medical professionals.

Critics also point to how even schools and youth programs have been affected by pollution — with authorities in the national capital suspending outdoor sports activities during severe air quality episodes and parents calling for more indoor infrastructure to protect children’s health.

As the IOC monitors developments, there’s a growing urgency among India’s sporting community to find solutions that protect athletes’ health, keep training consistent and ensure competitive performance isn’t undermined by an avoidable factor: the air they breathe.