Paris Olympics 2024: India sends Forty portable ACs to Games Village in Paris to help athletes combat soaring heat

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The Indian Sports Ministry has sent as many as 40 portable air-conditioners to help Indian athletes participating in Olympics 2024 to battle the soaring temperatures in Paris. The athletes have been struggling to cope up with the heat due to lack of cooling in their rooms in the Paris Olympic Games Village.

The air-conditioners were sent to the Games village after discussions with the Indian Olympic Association and the French Embassy here, according to sources in the ministry.

"Taking into consideration the issues faced by athletes at the Olympic Games village because of the temperature and humidity in Paris, the Ministry of Sports decided to provide 40 ACs in the Games Village rooms where the Indian athletes are staying," the source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Temperatures have soared in both Paris and Chateauroux, the two main Olympic Games venues. In the men's 50m rifle 3-positions event, all the eight finalists, including India's bronze-winner Swapnil Kusale, were seen sweating profusely at the Chateauroux shooting range.

(With PTI Inputs)

There are reports that temperatures have touched an unbearable 40 degrees Celsius on some days in Paris. Even before the Games started, several contingents had expressed their concerns about the weather in Paris after the organisers said that they would shun air conditioning to cut the carbon footprint of the event.

Instead, the Games organising committee unveiled an underfloor cooling mechanism and built-in insulation to keep the temperatures down at the Games Village. However, unconvinced about the measures, the USA contingent travelled with portable conditioners.

Reports have suggested that other countries have also resorted to buying portable ACs to manage the heat. India has now joined the bandwagon.

"The decision was taken early on Friday and the cost is being funded by the Ministry," the ministry source said.

"The ACs are plug and play units and athletes have already started using them. It is expected that with this they will have a more comfortable stay and get better rest which is much needed for a good performance," he added.