American Olympians to Ignore Paris Climate Plans, Bring Own AC Units: ‘Critical for Team USA’s Performance’
The U.S. Olympic team has decided to provide air conditioners for its athletes during the Paris Games, despite the event organizers’ efforts to minimize carbon emissions by using a more sustainable cooling system. Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, explained that maintaining a consistent and predictable environment is crucial for the athletes’ performance. This decision aligns with other countries like Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada, and Britain, which also plan to bring air conditioners. The Paris Games organizers had intended to cool the Athletes Village, housing over 15,000 participants, with an underground pipe system and fans, aiming to keep room temperatures between 23 to 26 degrees Celsius. However, the move by the U.S. and other teams undercuts these eco-friendly initiatives. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has emphasized her desire for the games to set an example in environmental stewardship. This ongoing situation reflects a broader issue, as air conditioning is relatively uncommon in European households compared to countries like China and the U.S.
By The Associated Press June 21, 2024 at 11:27am
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Olympic team is one of a handful that will supply air conditioners for their athletes at the Paris Games in a move that undercuts organizers’ plans to cut carbon emissions.
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic CEO Sarah Hirshland said Friday that while the U.S. team appreciates efforts aimed at sustainability, the federation would be supplying AC units for what is typically the largest contingent of athletes at the Summer Games.
“As you can imagine, this is a period of time in which consistency and predictability is critical for Team USA’s performance,” Hirshland said. “In our conversations with athletes, this was a very high priority and something that the athletes felt was a critical component in their performance capability.”
The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada and Britain were among the other countries with plans to bring air conditioners to France.
Olympic organizers have touted plans to cool rooms in the Athletes Village, which will house more than 15,000 Olympians and sports officials over the course of the games, using a system of cooling pipes underneath the floors.
The average high in Paris on Aug. 1 is 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit). The objective is to keep the rooms between 23-26 degrees (73-79 degrees Fahrenheit). The rooms will also be equipped with fans.
“I want the Paris Games to be exemplary from an environmental point of view,” Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has said about the plans for the Olympics.
According to the International Energy Agency, fewer than 1 in 10 households in Europe has air conditioning, and the numbers in Paris are lower than that. The study said that of the 1.6 billion AC units in use across the globe in 2016, more than half were in China (570 million) and the United States (375 million). The entire European Union had around 100 million.
The Olympics mark the most important stop on the athletic careers of the 10,500-plus athletes who will descend on Paris, which has led some high-profile countries to undercut environmental efforts for the sake of comfort.
Should Team USA continue to ignore climate protocols in Paris?
“It’s a high-performance environment,” Australian Olympic Committee spokesman Strath Gordon explained to The Post.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
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