At various venues across Paris, long lines for refreshments became a common sight. This situation turned particularly chaotic during a recent heatwave, adding to the frustrations of both fans and athletes.

A fresh wave of criticism hit the organizers of the Games as fans and athletes sweltered in the heat with insufficient cold water supplies.

The men’s triathlon had to be postponed due to concerns about E.coli in the River Seine, further highlighting the event’s organizational issues.

Temperatures soared to 37 degrees Celsius (100F), causing several spectators to seek medical attention.

At Roland Garros, people faced long waits at food and drink stalls and water fountains, with some spending over 30 minutes under the scorching sun just to fill their water bottles.

The demand for hand fans led to shops selling out quickly, while spectators scrambled to find shady spots to escape the heat.

British tennis player Jack Draper, 22, voiced his dissatisfaction with having to drink warm water during his match.

Despite a heat rule that allowed a 10-minute break before the deciding set, Draper struggled to keep cool, resorting to dunking his head in a freezer. After his second-round loss to American Taylor Fritz, he criticized the situation, stating it was “pretty poor” that players had to fetch their own water.

Social Media Outrage

One frustrated fan took to Twitter to express their disappointment: “Dreadful at Roland Garros.

Massive queues for food and ran out of food by 1 pm. Plus no alcohol. Treating spectators like dirt.”

Another pair of British fans, Brendan O’Hagan and Philip Bickerstaff, experienced similar frustration, waiting over 30 minutes for a drink and noting the lack of staff and beer.

The men’s triathlon was abruptly called off due to unsafe water conditions in the Seine, leaving many athletes unhappy.

Despite assurances from Paris 2024 officials that the water quality would be fine, pre-dawn tests revealed effluence, making the water unfit for human use.

The cancellation was a significant setback for France’s £1 billion project to clean up the Seine, which was hindered by torrential rain over the weekend. British athlete Alex Yee, a favorite for gold, was among those disappointed.

Triathlon commentator Annie Emmerson, speaking from the banks of the Seine, noted the disappointment among athletes but acknowledged the necessity of the decision, citing the unsafe conditions and strong currents.

Further tests were planned in hopes of rescheduling both the men’s and women’s events.

The rough seas in French Polynesia, 9,700 miles away, also led to the postponement of the surfing events, adding to the list of disruptions faced by the Games.

Opening Ceremony Setbacks

Adding to the series of unfortunate events, last week’s opening ceremony was marred by a firebomb attack followed by torrential rain, further compounding the challenges faced by the organizers and participants.

TDPel Media

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn