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Team USA is bringing its own air conditioning units to the Paris Olympics this summer. Yes, you read that right. They're packing up portable coolers and telling Paris organizers, "Thanks, but no thanks," when it comes to the city's eco-friendly but potentially stifling plans.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and the Olympic bigwigs have been crowing about their green ambitions for the Games. They've planned a village for the athletes that's more about sustainability than comfort, opting for a no-air-conditioning approach to reduce carbon emissions. Instead, they're using a system of pipes under the floors and standard fans to keep the rooms at a supposedly bearable 73-79 degrees.
But here's the kicker: the average high in Paris on the first of August is around 79 degrees. To put that in perspective, only about one in ten Parisians even bother with built-in air conditioning. It's just not a thing there. But for athletes about to compete on the world's biggest stage? Sleeping in what feels like a sauna isn't going to cut it.
Team USA's response? A firm "No, merci."
Sarah Hirshland, the CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, made it clear that the athletes' performance is the top priority. "As you can imagine, this is a period of time in which consistency and predictability is critical for Team USA's performance," she 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."
, Italy, Australia, Canada, and Britain are jumping on the cool train too, with more countries likely to announce similar plans soon. When it comes to the comfort and performance of their athletes, these nations aren't taking any chances.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo might be dreaming of an environmentally exemplary Games, but for Team USA and its fellow contenders, the focus is on gold, not green. So, while Paris tries to stay cool with its eco-friendly ambitions, Team USA is making sure their athletes stay just plain cool.
Because when it comes to the Olympics, there's no room for error-or sweat-soaked pillows.