Paris Heatwave: Olympics Organizer Anticipates Long Weeks During The Games

A recent study reveals that France faces a serious risk of setting new records for heat in the summer of 2024, when Paris and other towns will host the Summer Olympics.

Paris Extreme Heat

The 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games aim to be the "greenest" ever by reducing emissions by more than half compared to games held in Rio 2016 and London 2012.

By eliminating air conditioning from the Athletes' Village, which will house 10,500 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians this summer, the organizers want to reduce the Games' carbon imprint.

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, believed that the Games would hasten the city's transformation to a greener environment by removing traffic from major thoroughfares and cleaning up the Seine River.

A recent study issued a warning, speculating that the French capital would experience heatwaves lasting weeks during the 2024 Olympics. It states that during the summer games, Paris has a real chance of shattering all-time temperature records.

The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that January of this year has already been the hottest on record, with February also seeing record-breaking heat.

Paris has experienced extreme heat for the last five years, setting a new record in July 2019 when Meteo-France reported a scorching 42.6C in the city.

In a study last year, Paris had the highest rates of heat-related deaths out of 854 European towns and cities.

This was caused in part by the city's high population and lack of open places, while statistics from 2003-when 15,000 people died-skew the picture.

During the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, issued a warning, stating that competing in "extremely harsh climatic conditions" was the "new norm" for competitors, particularly those in endurance sports.

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Heatwave Concern

Heatwaves and other extreme weather are already planned for, according to the Olympic organizers.

In order to determine the effects of moving outdoor event times to earlier or later in the day and making sure indoor venues are constructed with climate change in mind, the organizers have done simulations.

Participants in outdoor sports like tennis, beach volleyball, and marathons are thought to be especially susceptible to the negative effects of intense heat.

Delegations worried about the heat, however, have taken issue with one green move in particular: the option to forgo installing air conditioning.

Instead, utilizing a natural geothermal cooling system, three locations close to the Seine River, between Saint-Ouen, Saint-Denis, and L'Ile-Saint-Denis, have been planned to remain cool.

"A geothermal network has been developed to supply the Village's buildings: the energy produced (68 per cent of which is renewable) will provide both heating and cooling for the accommodation, offices and housing that will be built within these walls after the Games," Paris 2024 says.

If this turns out to be insufficient, athletes will be given backup options, like fans. Other precautions include solar screens, high-performance joinery, and the entire design of the village, which together "guarantees a structural 6C compared with outside temperatures."

Delegations are being instructed on how to reduce the temperature in their lodging and use less energy in order to attain these outcomes.

A number of teams have announced that they will be utilizing portable air conditioners in their rooms due to concerns regarding the performance of their athletes.

Delegations won't receive air conditioning units, according to the organizers. However, guests can "through a list of rental equipment offered by Paris 2024" install portable air conditioners in their rooms.

But they are "confident that the athletes and their staff will be comfortable in the village without needing A/C" because of all of their cooling methods.

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