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Paris Olympics brings out hoses and misters to cool down fans during heat wave

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Paris Olympics brings out hoses and misters to cool down fans during heat wave
News

News

Paris Olympics brings out hoses and misters to cool down fans during heat wave

2024-07-30 22:22 Last Updated At:22:40

PARIS (AP) — The 2024 Olympics famously launched with a rain-soaked opening ceremony that drenched athletes and spectators alike. Now, they're enduring the opposite experience Tuesday: a heat wave.

Most of France is under a heat wave warning, with temperatures in Paris and surrounding areas expected to climb to 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) or higher, the national weather agency said. Air conditioning is far less common in French homes, shops and restaurants than in places like the United States.

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A man uses an umbrella to shield himself from the hot afternoon sun near the Grand Palais fencing venue at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A man uses an umbrella to shield himself from the hot afternoon sun near the Grand Palais fencing venue at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A family cools themselves under water spraying fans as the temperature rises at the 2024 Summer Olympics shooting venue in Chateauroux, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A family cools themselves under water spraying fans as the temperature rises at the 2024 Summer Olympics shooting venue in Chateauroux, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A fan tries to cool off during rowing competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A fan tries to cool off during rowing competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Germany's Julia Krajewski, riding Nickel 21, competes during the Equestrian Cross Country competition at Chateau de Versailles for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Versailles, France. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Germany's Julia Krajewski, riding Nickel 21, competes during the Equestrian Cross Country competition at Chateau de Versailles for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Versailles, France. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Coco Gauff of the United States returns the ball against Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina during the women's singles tennis competition at the Roland Garros Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Coco Gauff of the United States returns the ball against Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina during the women's singles tennis competition at the Roland Garros Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic cools off during a break as he plays Spain's Rafael Nadal during their men's singles second round match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic cools off during a break as he plays Spain's Rafael Nadal during their men's singles second round match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

People cool off under a misting fountain while filling their water bottles on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

People cool off under a misting fountain while filling their water bottles on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Eli, 10, cools off under a misting fountain on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Eli, 10, cools off under a misting fountain on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

People cool off under a mist outside the Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

People cool off under a mist outside the Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Fans use umbrella to shelter from the sun as they line the shore at the Olympic marina to see sailing boats come and go, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Fans use umbrella to shelter from the sun as they line the shore at the Olympic marina to see sailing boats come and go, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Charlotte, 6, from Germany, plays with a misting fountain on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Charlotte, 6, from Germany, plays with a misting fountain on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Spectators try to cool themselves off ahead of the men's canoe single finals of the canoe slalom at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Spectators try to cool themselves off ahead of the men's canoe single finals of the canoe slalom at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A spectator walks through a water mist sprayers on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

A spectator walks through a water mist sprayers on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

“It’s really hot out there,” German women’s tennis player Angelique Kerber said Tuesday after winning her singles match. “You just try to take your time during the breaks.”

The heat was expected to be even worse in the south, including the region around the Mediterranean city of Marseille that is hosting Olympic competitions like soccer and sailing. It was as hot as 40 C (104 F) in parts of southern France on Monday and the temperatures were expected to match that high again Tuesday.

Back-to-back record global heat was seen last week as climate change makes extreme weather more frequent and intense. Paris 2024 organizers have aimed to cut the event's carbon footprint, with measures like turning to an underfloor cooling system and insulation instead of air conditioning at the Olympic village where athletes are staying. Some countries, like the U.S., brought their own air conditioning units.

Visitors and athletes endured a sweaty and sunny Tuesday before thunderstorms were expected to sweep into the Paris area in the evening. People dipped into a Paris canal that's a popular swim spot or fanned themselves at exposed Olympic venues.

Volunteers used hoses to spray down cheering fans at the shadeless beach volleyball stadium near the Eiffel Tower and put up signs about water refilling areas. Spectators ducked under trees for shade, while players on the sunbaked sand — which can be more than 20 C (30 F) hotter than the air temperature — took extra breaks to drape bags of ice over their heads and shoulders.

“Very hot,” Egyptian beach volleyball player Doaa Elghobashy remarked after competing in long sleeves, pants and a hijab. “But not like Egypt.”

A handful of misters were set up at La Concorde urban park, the venue that's been hosting skateboarding and BMX freestyle cycling. The Paris area's train and metro operator said it was distributing more than 2.5 million containers of water at over 70 train stations and other stops on its network, as well as at bus stations.

The equestrian teams were spraying their horses with cool water and keeping them in the shade after riding the course, which doesn’t take long. Riders also said they cut down the warmups from 45 minutes to half an hour ahead of competitions held in the regal gardens of the Palace of Versailles outside Paris.

“It’s really hot, but you have to be professional about it,” British rider Carl Hester said after an event Tuesday. “Lots of walk breaks so the horses can relax. We’ve got a covered arena, so it keeps the sun off their backs.”

German rider Julia Krajewski, the defending Olympic champion in the category of individual eventing, pointed out that she “would be more worried for the spectators to be honest.”

She said Monday that she wasn't worried about competing in her thick jacket, helmet and heavy boots because “I personally prefer the heat” but “you have to be sensitive, know your horse.”

Some other athletes weren't too concerned either.

U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff said Monday, before the worst of the heat, that she “felt good” after her match and that it was “like playing in Florida.”

“I did use the ice towel, which I rarely do at matches, but it was more of a preventative thing,” the reigning U.S. Open champion said a day before being eliminated in singles competition.

On the other hand, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, who beat rival Spain's Rafael Nadal on Monday, found it “pretty hot on the court,” noting the change from Saturday’s rain. “Paris weather is quite unpredictable,” he said.

Further south, American windsurfer Dominique Stater wore a vest filled with ice packs after her races in Marseille on Monday, where it hit 31 C (88 F) in the late afternoon.

“It’s pretty crazy heat, more than Miami,” said Stater, who's from the sweltering Florida metropolis.

Stater said staying hydrated is top of mind, especially because the windsurfers are swathed in extensive protective gear.

That's the same advice weather officials are passing along to those planning to be outside on Tuesday: Hydrate, avoid going out in the afternoon when it's hottest and wear a hat.

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, and since 2000, they repeat every year. It predicts the trend will keep increasing.

AP writers Jerome Pugmire in Versailles, France; Jimmy Golen, Jenna Fryer, Howard Fendrich, Hanna Arhirova, Stephen Whyno and Courtney Bonnell in Paris, and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Marseilles, France, contributed.

A man uses an umbrella to shield himself from the hot afternoon sun near the Grand Palais fencing venue at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A man uses an umbrella to shield himself from the hot afternoon sun near the Grand Palais fencing venue at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A family cools themselves under water spraying fans as the temperature rises at the 2024 Summer Olympics shooting venue in Chateauroux, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A family cools themselves under water spraying fans as the temperature rises at the 2024 Summer Olympics shooting venue in Chateauroux, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A fan tries to cool off during rowing competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A fan tries to cool off during rowing competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Germany's Julia Krajewski, riding Nickel 21, competes during the Equestrian Cross Country competition at Chateau de Versailles for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Versailles, France. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Germany's Julia Krajewski, riding Nickel 21, competes during the Equestrian Cross Country competition at Chateau de Versailles for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Versailles, France. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Coco Gauff of the United States returns the ball against Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina during the women's singles tennis competition at the Roland Garros Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Coco Gauff of the United States returns the ball against Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina during the women's singles tennis competition at the Roland Garros Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic cools off during a break as he plays Spain's Rafael Nadal during their men's singles second round match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic cools off during a break as he plays Spain's Rafael Nadal during their men's singles second round match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

People cool off under a misting fountain while filling their water bottles on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

People cool off under a misting fountain while filling their water bottles on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Eli, 10, cools off under a misting fountain on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Eli, 10, cools off under a misting fountain on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

People cool off under a mist outside the Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

People cool off under a mist outside the Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Fans use umbrella to shelter from the sun as they line the shore at the Olympic marina to see sailing boats come and go, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Fans use umbrella to shelter from the sun as they line the shore at the Olympic marina to see sailing boats come and go, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Charlotte, 6, from Germany, plays with a misting fountain on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Charlotte, 6, from Germany, plays with a misting fountain on a hot afternoon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Spectators try to cool themselves off ahead of the men's canoe single finals of the canoe slalom at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Spectators try to cool themselves off ahead of the men's canoe single finals of the canoe slalom at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A spectator walks through a water mist sprayers on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

A spectator walks through a water mist sprayers on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

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Japan's exports hit record high, but trade deficit continues

2025-01-23 13:16 Last Updated At:13:21

TOKYO (AP) — Japan saw record-high exports last year, as its annual trade deficit declined 44% from the previous year, the Finance Ministry reported Thursday.

The trade deficit, which measures the value of exports minus imports, totaled 5.3 trillion yen ($34 billion), according to government data, as imports ballooned on the back of rising energy costs and growing inflation around the world.

Exports from the world’s third-largest economy totaled 107.9 trillion yen ($691 billion), surpassing the 100 trillion yen mark for the second-straight year, and the biggest value on record for comparable data, which dates back to 1979, the ministry said.

Some companies may have sped up their exports in anticipation of potential tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump has said he expects to put 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1. During his campaign, he threatened to impose tariffs on imports from China, although details on that remain unclear.

For the month of December, exports gained a greater-than-expected 2.8% on-year, while imports rose 1.8%. Exports grew to Asian and European nations, while dipping slightly to the U.S.

Imports grew most from India, Hong Kong and Iran.

Demand was especially strong for Japan's vehicles, semiconductors and other machinery.

The weakening yen, another recent trend, has the effect of inflating the value of imports. The U.S. dollar has been hovering at 150-yen levels, sometimes surpassing 160 yen, over the past year, while a year ago it was often at 140-yen levels.

Japan has recorded a trade deficit for four straight years, but last year's deficit was considerably smaller than the 9.5 trillion yen deficit for 2023.

FILE - Cars for export are parked at a port in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

FILE - Cars for export are parked at a port in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

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