Paris Olympics Issues Continue to Pile as South Korean Swimming Stars Ditch Village in Frustration: “Something Has to Be Done”
South Korea’s swimming stars have had enough of the Olympic Village and are making a splash by leaving it entirely.
According to Reuters, six South Korean swimmers were forced to vacate the Olympic Village. Swimmers Kim Woomin and Hwang Sunwoo are among those who have complained about the stuffy conditions on buses due to taped windows, and lack of air-conditioning.
To make matters worse, the journey to the arena took more than an hour, despite the distance being only 12 km. Now, the team has moved to a hotel just five minutes from the Paris La Defense Arena, where the swimming events will be held. Korea Swimming Federation president Chong Chang-hoon said, “We just want to make sure they will be at least a bit more comfortable.”
Even Hwang Sunwoo weighed in, describing the bus as a sauna, “It’s cooler outside than inside the bus. It usually takes about 40 to 45 minutes from the village to the arena, but it took us more than an hour and a half.” He detailed that the windows were taped, maybe because of the threat of terrorist attacks, and finished by saying, “But something has to be done.”
The sentiment was mirrored among the Australian swimmers as well. Earlier, swimmer Shayna Jack had taken to social media, sharing a post featuring several elite swimmers sitting on the floor of a non-air-conditioned bus. “Bus rides to the pool are jam packed … 45 mins to comp pool…No air-con or windows down. Bus has also gotten lost. Crazy start to the chaos,” she further described the situation on Instagram.
The logistical issues disrupted athletes’ schedules, forcing them to miss “physio and recovery time allotments”, said chef de mission Anna Meares. Their coach, Rohan Taylor, said the Australian Olympic Committee has been meeting with local organizers and the IOC daily “to get the right buses with the right conditions.”
In another instance, the Australian men’s hockey team was even driven to the wrong venue, Stade de France—a rugby/football stadium.
Moreover, the geothermal cooling system has had mixed reviews. While some found it insufficiently cooling, US sprinter Fred Kerley said his “room Got super cold”. The French authorities have done away with air conditioning units to reduce the carbon footprint; however, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee said it will bring their own.
CEO Sarah Hirshland said, “In our conversations with athletes this was a very high priority and something that the athletes felt was a critical component in their performance capability and the predictability and consistency of what they’re accustomed to.” Additionally, the Team USA physiologist noted that the temperature at the village might be 79°F, which is lower than the optimal bedroom sleep micro-environment, potentially leading to athletes feeling light-headed or physically weaker on their competition days.
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