Heat headache for 2020 planners as Tokyo swelters a year before Games

FILE PHOTO: Visitors use paper fans featuring attention-seeking messages on heat during a proving test of heat countermeasures for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the venue of FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, also acting as a test event for the games, in Tokyo, Japan July 25, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato

TOKYO (Reuters) - Soaring temperatures in Japan have killed at least 57 people since late July, authorities said on Tuesday, highlighting the health threat to athletes and fans that Olympics organisers must tackle before next year's Tokyo games.

Temperatures have been stuck above 31 Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) in and around Tokyo since July 24, the date the Summer Games will open next year in Japan's capital and run for 17 days.