The Potential Impact of Heat on Athletes’ Sleep at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games

Abstract

In 2024, Paris will host the Olympic (during July and August) and Paralympic (during September) Summer Games. Despite temperatures often exceeding 40°C in Paris in July, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has indicated that there will be no installation of air conditioning in the athletes’ rooms. High ambient temperatures can impair the quantity and quality of sleep and, consequently, impair athletic performance. In this overview, we present the rationale behind and explain the process of how a warm environment is unfavorable to the sleep of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as well as offer practical recommendations on how to mitigate the effects of environment heat for a restful and effective night’s sleep during the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games.