Paris Olympic Heat: Cost of portable AC’s that Indian govt sent to Athletes

Indian athletes at the Paris Olympic Games Village were provided with 40 portable air conditioners by the country’s sports ministry to deal with the high temperatures and lack of cooling in their rooms.

According to sources within the ministry, the air conditioners were sent to the Games Village after discussions with the Indian Olympic Association and the French Embassy in India. “Considering the issues faced by athletes at the Olympic Games Village due to the temperature and humidity in Paris, the Ministry of Sports decided to provide 40 ACs in the Indian athletes’ rooms,” the source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

Temperatures have soared in both Paris and Chateauroux, the two main Olympic Games venues, with reports indicating that temperatures have reached 40 degrees Celsius on some days in Paris. In the men’s 50m rifle 3-positions event, all eight finalists, including India’s bronze-winner Swapnil Kusale, were seen sweating profusely at the Chateauroux shooting range.

The Games organizers chose to avoid air conditioning to reduce the event's carbon footprint, using underfloor cooling and insulation at the Games Village. However, these measures haven't convinced many athletes. The USA contingent, unconvinced, travelled with portable air conditioners. Reports suggest other countries also bought portable ACs to handle the heat, and India has joined this trend.

“The decision was made on Friday and the cost is being funded by the Ministry,” the source said. “The ACs are plug-and-play units, and athletes have already started using them. It is expected to provide a more comfortable stay and better rest for improved performance,” he added.

STORY | With temperatures soaring in Paris Olympics, Sports Ministry ensures 40 ACs for Indian athletes

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Before the Games, several contingents expressed concern about the Paris weather after the organizers announced the decision to shun air conditioning. Instead, they unveiled an underfloor cooling mechanism and built-in insulation at the Games Village. However, this did not convince many athletes, prompting the USA and other countries to bring in their portable air conditioners.

With the provision of these air conditioners, Indian athletes can focus on their performances without added stress from extreme heat. Providing portable ACs is seen as crucial for athletes to rest and recover between events.

“The ACs are plug-and-play units and athletes have already started using them. It’s expected to provide more comfortable stays and better rest for better performance,” the ministry source said.

Portable ACs are generally more affordable than full central air conditioning systems, with prices ranging from 60,000 to 1,00,000 or more, depending on the unit's capacity and features. Investing in comfort during extreme weather is priceless—especially for high-level athletes.