The 2024 Olympics famously launched with a rain-soaked opening ceremony that drenched athletes and spectators alike. Now, they're facing the opposite experience Tuesday: a heat wave.
ADVERTISEMENTAfter a rain-soaked opening ceremony last week, Olympic fans are adjusting to a very different experience on Tuesday – a heat wave.
Most of France is under a heat wave warning, with temperatures in Paris and its surrounding areas expecting to climb to 35 C or higher, according to the French national weather agency.
Visitors and residents cooled off by drinking water and staying in the shade.
A handful of stations that spray mist were set up at La Concorde urban park, the venue that includes skateboarding and BMX freestyle cycling.
Paris’ train and metro operator said over 2.5 million containers of water will be distributed at over 70 train stations and stops on its transport network and at bus stations.
The heat was expected to be even worse in the south, including the region around the city of Marseille that is hosting some soccer and sailing events.
France's national weather agency described heat waves as “increasingly intense, frequent, early and long-lasting” amid climate change.
It said that before 1989, such high temperatures were observed on average once every five years, but since 2000, they have been repeating every year.
It predicts the trend will keep increasing.