Why were baseball games canceled 6 hours before start amid 'crazy heat'?

Professional baseball games scheduled for July 4 in Jamsil and Gwangju were canceled remarkably early, before 1 p.m., due to an intense heatwave. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced the cancellation of the NC Dinos-Doosan Bears game in Jamsil and the KT Wiz-KIA Tigers game in Gwangju, which were originally set to begin at 6:30 p.m.

The KBO stated that the cancellations were a direct result of a "heatwave severe warning" being issued. This early decision reflects a revised understanding of the impact of extreme temperatures on player safety and game operations. The league has adjusted its regulations to allow for such preemptive measures when severe heat warnings are in effect.

Previously, the KBO's policy might have allowed games to proceed under similar conditions, but the current regulations now permit cancellations before 1 p.m. if a severe heatwave warning is declared. This change underscores a growing awareness and concern regarding the health risks associated with playing professional sports during extreme weather events.