KUALA LUMPUR – In a move to keep athletes cool before the heat starts at the Paris Olympics this month, they will be provided with portable air coolers to ease the hot summer weather in the French capital.
This follows the organisers’ decision not to provide air conditioning in the Games Village, which accommodates athletes regardless of the weather conditions.
It is understood that the weather this summer is expected to exceed normal levels in France.
The Chef of Mission (CDM) to Paris, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, confirmed that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the National Sports Council (NSC) will be supplying air coolers.
“We already knew from the beginning when the CDM delegation visited last year, and the athletes were also informed that there would be no air conditioning in the apartment.
“So we have an air cooler and we will distribute it early,” he told reporters after the ceremony announcing Samsonite as the official luggage partner of the national contingent to the Paris Olympics with a sponsorship value of RM346,380.
In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, the organisers had announced that the 7,000 rooms in the Games Village will not be equipped with air conditioning but will use a geothermal cooling system that guarantees the temperature inside the building is at least six degrees Celsius lower than the temperature outside.
With temperatures this summer predicted to be higher than the 25 to 42 degrees Celsius range recorded previously, some are expressing concern about potential health risks, including cramps, fatigue, and heat stroke.
According to international media reports, the organisers recently announced that they have received orders for 2,500 air-conditioning units from several countries, including Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, Ireland, Greece, and Australia, with the additional cost borne by the contingent concerned.
Meanwhile, Hamidin advised all athletes to be more careful and always take care of safety ahead of the remaining 17 days before the Olympics begin.
“We hope they can take care of their health or be a little careful in training, otherwise, it will be a loss if they get injured before the games start,” he said, commenting on the incident of road cyclist Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir, who suffered minor injuries after an accident while participating in a competition in Belgium on June 16.
Hamidin also confirmed the final number of 26 Malaysian athletes to the Olympics, after national diver Ooi Tze Liang did not get an additional slot from World Aquatics by the closing date yesterday.
When asked about the medal target, he said he wanted to wait for an announcement from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh on the matter. – July 9, 2024