The 2024 Olympics, which kicked off with a rain-soaked opening ceremony, are now facing a heat wave as temperatures rise above 35 C in Paris and its surrounding areas. With most of France under a heat wave warning, visitors and residents are taking precautions to stay cool by drinking water and seeking shade. In response to the extreme heat, stations with mist sprayers have been set up at La Concorde urban park, the venue for skateboarding and BMX freestyle cycling events. Additionally, Paris’ train and metro operator has announced that over 2.5 million containers of water will be distributed at transport stations and bus stops to help people cope with the heat. The situation is expected to be even more severe in the south of France, where Marseille is hosting soccer and sailing events.
France’s national weather agency attributes the intensifying heat waves to climate change, noting that temperatures previously observed only once every five years before 1989 are now occurring on an annual basis since 2000. The agency predicts that this trend will continue to worsen in the future. As athletes and spectators at the Olympics adjust to the extreme weather conditions, it serves as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on major sporting events and the need for adaptation strategies to mitigate its effects.
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