The Paris Diamond League track and field meeting is set to proceed on Sunday at Charlety Stadium, organizers announced Friday, despite a historic heatwave affecting the region and stretching emergency services.

The decision comes after Paris police authorities had initially requested the event's cancellation. The French Athletics Federation (FFA), in agreement with the police prefecture, confirmed the meet would take place, but in an "adapted format designed to ensure the safety of all participants."

Police had cited the exceptional heat, which has impacted Paris since June 21, as a reason for requesting the cancellation of the meet and other weekend events, including a music festival and a Pride march. They warned they would be forced to enforce a cancellation if voluntary agreement was not reached, as emergency services needed to prioritize vulnerable populations.

Despite the challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching record highs, the FFA stated that "the safety of athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, spectators and all staff involved remains our highest priority." Only competitions involving professional athletes will be held, with all other associated activities cancelled.

To mitigate the effects of the extreme weather, the FFA has implemented several safety measures. These include delaying the opening of stadium gates to the public, reinforcing medical and emergency services on-site, and providing additional drinking water stations and shaded areas for attendees and participants.

France has been experiencing unprecedented temperatures, with the average temperature recorded across the nation on Thursday matching the previous day's record high. More than 75 percent of the country has been placed under a red weather alert for the first time, highlighting the severity of the heatwave.

Top athletes, including Noah Lyles, Femke Bol, and Mondo Duplantis, are expected to compete in the Paris event, which serves as a crucial opportunity for them to earn points towards the Diamond League finals. The event is part of the wider Diamond League series, a premier annual series of track and field competitions.

The situation underscores the growing challenges faced by organizers of outdoor sporting and cultural events during periods of extreme weather, a trend expected to become more frequent with climate change.