It's a topic that was debated at the recent Australian Open and has been a point of discussion this week in Bendigo as the next burst of extreme heat returns.

The weekend's forecast doesn't paint a pretty picture for sport in Bendigo. Saturday's temperature is expected to reach 40 degrees and it's only going to get worse on Sunday with a searing 43 degrees predicted.

They are tough temperatures for elite athletes to be competing in, let-alone the Saturday afternoon "hobby" sportspeople who play for purely enjoyment.

What needs to be the No.1 priority for sporting administrators when such conditions prevail is not the need to get results with finals just around the corner, but the health and wellbeing of the competitors.

Playing in extreme heat can be fraught with danger, no matter what extra precautions may be taken, be it extra drinks breaks in cricket or longer rest periods at the change of ends in tennis.

As for the debate of at what temperature should sport be abandoned, perhaps those making the decision simply need to ask: "Would I want to be playing sport in anything above 40 degrees?"