This photo taken July 23, 2024, shows a room for South Korean athletes at the village for the Paris Olympics in Paris. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
PARIS, Jul. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — Blankets and French summer don’t seem to go hand in hand at first glance, but with lower-than-expected temperatures in Paris, Team Korea didn’t take any chances when it comes to setting up rooms for its athletes at their Olympic village.
Organizers of the Paris Olympics opened the athletes’ village for the media Tuesday, a rainy day that saw the temperature dip below 20 degrees Celsius. Light blankets were placed on cardboard beds for South Korean athletes, who have been assigned 89 rooms at the village.
“We wanted to prepare against hot conditions of the summer here, but we also brought blankets just in case the temperature drops suddenly,” an official with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) said.
This photo taken July 23, 2024, shows the dining hall inside the athletes’ village for the Paris Olympics in Paris. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
In its pursuit of an eco-friendly Olympics, Paris organizers have not installed air conditioners at the village. They have instead equipped rooms with energy-efficient geothermal cooling systems, which they claim will keep the temperature inside the dorm several degrees below the outside.
This photo taken July 23, 2024, shows shelves inside a South Korean lounge at the Paris Olympics athletes’ village filled with Korean instant meals and snacks. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Delegations from around the world weren’t so sure. Australia, the United States and several others have said they will bring their own air conditioners.
The KSOC wanted to do the same, but the local organizers balked at the plan. Instead, the KSOC brought electric fans for all 89 rooms and 26 portable air conditioners that can be shared.
In lieu of bug screens in their rooms, South Korean athletes will have mosquito repellents instead.
The KSOC has set up a lounge for its athletes, complete with instant noodle cups and other Korean snacks for a little taste of home. A medical room has been set up on the first floor of their dorm building.
(Yonhap)
