Indian athletes struggling with extreme heat and a lack of cooling units in their rooms at the Paris Olympic Games Village have been given 40 portable air conditioners by the country’s sports ministry to increase their comfort.

Sources said the air conditioners were sent to the Games Village after consultations with the Indian Olympic Association and the Indian Embassy in France.

“Considering the problems faced by athletes at the Games Village due to heat and humidity in Paris, the Sports Ministry has decided to have 40 air conditioners in the rooms where Indian athletes are staying,” a source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

“Following the decision, the Indian Embassy in France purchased the ACs and handed them over to the Games Village,” the source said.

Temperatures have risen in Paris and Chateauroux, the main venues for the Olympic Games.

In the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, all eight finalists, including India’s bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale, were seen sweating profusely at the Chateauroux shooting range. Reports suggest that temperatures in Paris reached an unbearable 40 degrees Celsius on some days.

Even before the Games began, several groups expressed concerns about the weather in Paris, especially after organizers said they would minimize air conditioning to reduce the event’s carbon footprint. Instead, the Games committee introduced an underfloor cooling mechanism and built-in insulation to manage temperatures in the Games Village. Still skeptical, the U.S. group brought portable air conditioners with them.

It is reported that other countries have also resorted to purchasing portable air conditioners to manage heat, and now India has joined the practice.

‘The decision was taken early on Friday and is being funded by the Ministry,’ a Ministry source said, adding: ‘The air conditioners are plug-and-play units and athletes have already started using them. This is expected to provide a more comfortable stay and better rest, which is crucial for good performance.’

(With inputs from agencies.)