Australia to buy portable AC units for Paris Olympics

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has announced it will be providing athletes with more than $100,000 worth of portable air conditioning units in Paris, after the organisers of the 2024 Olympic Games said no traditional air conditioning would be installed in the athletes’ village.

The organisers announced last year that there would be no air conditioning in an effort to limit the carbon footprint of the Games.

Director of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Laurent Michaud, has said that the insulation within the buildings allows them to retain the coolness of nighttime, which should help the buildings maintain an acceptable temperature.

However, the Australian Olympic Committee is concerned the athletes will struggle to sleep during the day when temperatures rise. During the city’s hottest period last year, temperatures rose to 43ºC, with averages of around 25ºC throughout summer.

The athletes’ village has been built with a water-cooling facility under the building that organisers believe will keep the athletes and officials cool. Each room also has double-glazed windows and shutters.

However, there are concerns this will not provide enough comfort in a high-performance setting.

The AOC hired a heat specialist to help determine the optimum temperatures for the athletes, which contributed to the decision to provide temporary air conditioners and fans in each room. The AOC is also considering ice vests, air flow and clothing options.