The decision to cut air conditioning in the athletes’ lodging for the 2024 Paris Olympics has sparked outrage among several countries’ delegations.
As part of an effort to make the Summer Games the “greenest” ever, organizers have opted to use a “natural geothermal cooling system” in the athletes’ village instead of traditional air conditioning.
Yann Krysinski, who oversees the buildings and infrastructure for the Games, explained that naturally cool water from underground will be used to cool the apartments, eliminating the need for air conditioning in the summer.
However, the decision has raised concerns among athletes and officials, especially in light of the deadly heatwaves that have hit France in recent years.
There will be no air conditioning in athletes' rooms at #Paris2024, which pledged to host the ‘greenest ever’ Olympic Games. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo spoke to @Reuters about the city's plans to keep athletes cool https://t.co/Js9skXtWoF pic.twitter.com/uVBMusztdi
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 14, 2024
In 2022, more than 5,000 people died in France due to extreme summer temperatures, and a recent study has warned that the 2024 Olympics could be marred by weeks-long heatwaves and record-breaking temperatures.
In response to these concerns, some teams have decided to take matters into their own hands.
Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll emphasized the importance of providing optimal conditions for athletes, stating, “We appreciate the concept of not having air conditioning due to the carbon footprint \[but\] this is a high-performance Games. We’re not going for a picnic.”
Paris is experimenting with a geoexchange system to cool its Olympic buildings
The US says it’ll bring its own air conditioners
Air conditioning is part of the informal American Bill of Rights pic.twitter.com/RTslKA1XjP
— The Mind Scourge (@TheMindScourge) March 17, 2024
The Australian team has allocated more than $150,000 to provide air conditioning and fans for its athletes and has even hired a “heat specialist” to ensure their well-being during the July Games.
Similarly, the Greek and Irish Olympic delegations have announced plans to provide their own portable air conditioners for their athletes. Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, told the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, “We will buy or find \[ACs\] from our sponsors. We want our athletes to compete in the best conditions. We spare no expense when it comes to our athletes.”
