The opening ceremony of the Olympics will take place at the centre of Paris, in and around the Seine River.
TheParis Olympics in Paris are just around the corner, but a new challenge has come up, which is air quality. Data from Airparif (an air quality monitoring agency) reveals “poor” air quality, particularly due to high ozone concentrations.
This news comes just a week before the opening ceremony, adding to the pressure on the Olympic committee, which is already facing concerns about the Seine’s water quality.
Impact on Athletes and Performances
A report by Respire, a French charity, highlighted that pollution levels at many sports venues exceed World Health Organisation recommendations. This raises concerns for athlete performance, as even minor levels of air pollution can affect results and potentially cause respiratory issues. Athletes, including world record holder David Rudisha, have emphasised the importance of clean air for optimal performance.
An air quality report released has warned of significant air quality problems at the Paris Olympic Village. Thousands of athletes set to arrive in the French capital in the coming days, local charity Respire shared its findings showing high air pollution levels across Paris. pic.twitter.com/FnYxZYPm47
— Josh waJembe Mziro (@JoshMunthali) July 18, 2024
Positive weather outlook
Despite these concerns, the weather forecast for the opening ceremony is optimistic. Predictions suggest a pleasant “fairly typical summer scenario” with a mix of clouds and clear skies. Additionally, extreme heat is not expected, which is a relief for the large number of attendees at the outdoor ceremony.
Paris mayor dips in the river
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip last week in the Seine River to demonstrate that the once heavily polluted waterway is now clean enough to host swimming events for the 2024 Olympics.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine in an attempt to address safety concerns ahead of the 2024 Olympics.
Macron, who had promised to join her, did not. The Seine has been closed to swimming since 1923 due to pollution pic.twitter.com/H6h2faXsgb
— TRT Afrika (@trtafrika) July 17, 2024
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