'Worst in history': Glaring issue amid $27 billion Olympics crisis

Athletes already have their hands full in following a number of strict protocols during their stay in Tokyo due to the threat of Covid-19, but they could also be battling the soaring Japanese heat.

Perception around the Tokyo Olympics is at a low after a rising number of Covid-19 cases in the Olympic village has many locals fearing the worst.

WOW: Ash Barty cops brutal Olympics snub in favour of Naomi Osaka

HUGE: Olympic boss' bombshell admission as Covid cases rise

'DISGUSTING': Sporting world fumes over bikini bottoms scandal

But with temperatures expected to hover around 35 degrees celsius, athletes will also have to be aware of their limitations during one of the hottest Games on record.

Humidity is also expected to reach 88, which will pose a different challenge for a number of athletes.

“It’s going to be uncomfortable,” Carl Parker, a storm specialist, told Yahoo Sports US.

“It’s going to be hot every day and the dew point is going to be very high.”

One adviser to the Olympic Committee made the huge call the conditions could be the worst for a Games in modern history.

“The problem is not only the temperature but also the humidity as well,” Makoto Yokohari told Reuters.

“When you combine these two, Tokyo is the worst [Games] in history.”

Hottest Olympic games on record

If predictions are correct, the Tokyo Games will be the hottest on record.

The last time Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games, in 1964, it did so in October to avoid the relentless summer heat.

Since 1964, on average, temperatures have slowly increased and the average number of days soaring above 35 degrees celsius has gone from one to 12.

The 1964 Tokyo Olympics are not the only Games to be moved with Mexico City (1968) and Seoul, South Korea (1988) held later in the year to accomodate the heat.

So why did the Tokyo Games remain in July-August.

One expert believes it is because of broadcasting demands.

Dick Pound, who is a Canadian Olympic committee member and a former chair of television negotiations for the International Olympic Committee, told the New York Times it was "essentially" driven by US television demands.

The Olympics, which costs an estimated $27 billion, makes two-thirds of its revenue on global broadcasting rights and half of that broadcasting revenue comes from the US.

NBC is currently in negotiations for a $10.65 billion deal to host the Summer and Winter Olympic Games through to 2032.

But, back to the conditions, experts predict many athletes could find it extremely difficult in the humidity.

Especially for long outdoor events such as track, cycling and beach volleyball.

“At these levels athletes are really energised and they start to sweat,” Parker of the Weather Channel said.

“The body uses evaporation to cool itself off, but that’s not nearly as effective which is why it perspires even more.”

While the Japanese have considered numerous out-of-the-box ideas to help mitigate the heat, only time will tell whether an Olympic Games can be sustained in such soaring temperatures.

with Dan Wetzel - Yahoo US

Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.