Santo Domingo 2026: Will rain affect athletics competition?

A light drizzle fell over Santo Domingo's Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium on Wednesday morning, prompting questions about how weather conditions might affect the ongoing athletics competition, particularly for star 400-meter runner Marileidy Paulino.

According to World Athletics rules, light rain typically does not halt scheduled events. Competitions can commence as planned. However, officials will suspend activities if a thunderstorm develops or if lightning is detected within a five-kilometer radius of the stadium. If rain begins after the program has started, events can continue as scheduled, provided conditions remain safe.

Certain track and field events could be more susceptible to persistent rain. The hammer throw and pole vault are particularly vulnerable. In such cases, the track judge holds the ultimate decision-making power, similar to an umpire in baseball deciding on game suspension. Judges are empowered to temporarily halt any event if conditions pose a safety risk.

Despite the potential for disruption, the stadium's synthetic track is designed for efficient water drainage. Furthermore, there is no automatic suspension rule for rain in athletics. Races ranging from 100 to 1,500 meters, as well as relays, can generally proceed without significant complications, contingent on overall weather safety. Events like the long jump and triple jump could be impacted if the approach areas become slippery, and the pole vault faces similar challenges.