'Trust science', Paris mayor tells air conditioning fans

PARIS : With competing nations split over whether to enter into the spirit of the "Green Games" or throw money at success whatever the environmental cost, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told those nations planning on installing air conditioning at the athletes' village to "trust the science" instead.

Temperatures are expected to soar again in the European summer, after setting records in 2023, but there will be no air conditioning in the athletes' rooms at Paris 2024, which has pledged to host the "greenest ever" Games.

Instead, buildings in the athletes' village have been designed with a cooling system drawing water from underground, and facades orientated so they get little direct sun.

"This village was designed to avoid the need for air conditioning, even in very, very high temperatures, in order to maintain comfortable temperatures," Hidalgo told Reuters on Wednesday.

With climate scientists warning that global warming has produced more extreme weather patterns in much of the world, organisers of Paris 2024 have said they want to halve the carbon footprint compared with the Rio 2016 and London 2012 Summer Games.

"I think we have to trust science on two counts. The first is what scientists are telling us about the fact that we are on the brink of a precipice. Everyone, including the athletes, must be aware of this," said Hidalgo.

"And secondly, we have to trust the scientists when they help us to construct buildings in a sober way that allows us to make do without air conditioning."

NOT ALL COMPETITORS CONVINCED

Yet, the Olympic Committees from Australia, Brazil, Canada and Norway are among those who believe it will not be enough.

"Our clear wish is that there should be air-conditioning in all rooms," the Norwegian Committee told