This is Paris.
That's the tweet.
📸 #Paris2024 / Bilal Aouffen pic.twitter.com/SDuGd9RdUf— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) August 4, 2024
The 2024 Olympic Games opened in Paris amid extreme weather conditions that have become increasingly common due to the climate crisis. During the opening ceremony, a heavy downpour delivered a month’s worth of rain, straining the city’s 200-year-old combined sewer system and causing untreated sewage discharge. This delayed the triathlon events, including a Seine River swimming race.
Athletes, fans, and organizers face a twofold challenge: modern sports are both victims of and contributors to global warming. The rapid shift from heavy rain to stifling heat in Paris exemplifies worldwide extreme weather fluctuations. Scientists have warned that warmer air holds more moisture, making storms rainier.
900,000 fans in Paris!
What a unique atmosphere, you got our hearts ♥️#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/ZGnnMgzvCl— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) August 4, 2024
Earth has warmed about 1.5°C since the widespread use of fossil fuels began, increasing atmospheric moisture by around 10%. The distribution of this increased moisture remains uncertain, with new analyses suggesting torrential downpours interspersed with extended droughts.
Last night still giving us goosebumps 😩
Day 5 let's go 💪#Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/1c1rURLC7T
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 5, 2024
The infrastructure issues in Paris remind us that societal events and rituals, including the Olympics, are vulnerable to extreme weather.
Sporting events worldwide must now consider making severe concessions to adapt to these conditions.
Paris Olympics adapt to climate crisis
The modern Olympic Games have historically contributed to their own sustainability struggles by emitting massive amounts of greenhouse gases.
London 2012 and Rio 2016 each produced over 3 million tonnes of CO₂, while Tokyo 2020, held during the COVID-19 pandemic with no spectators, managed just under 2 million tonnes. Paris 2024 aims for 1.6 million tonnes of emissions spread across 13 to 16 million visitors. To achieve these reductions, organizers have limited new construction, with 95% of the 26 competition venues either existing or temporary.
New buildings, such as the aquatics center, have been designed to be ecologically sustainable, featuring wooden frames, rooftop solar panels, and seating made from recycled materials. The Olympic Village also aims to minimize energy use and emissions by not providing air conditioners to athletes. However, this has led wealthier nations to reserve their own units, highlighting the inherent unfairness of the climate crisis.
Some experts suggest that new infrastructures, like a motorway opened for the games, could have been avoided if the event were more minor or staged across multiple cities. Radical changes will be essential for the Olympics to continue in an increasingly volatile climate. Despite these challenges, some remain optimistic, viewing the Olympics as a beacon of what large sporting events can achieve in reducing their environmental impact and promoting sustainability solutions to a global audience.
The future of the Olympics in the face of climate change is uncertain, but with conscious efforts towards sustainability and adaptation, the iconic tournament may endure.
