The Paris Olympics’ first battleground: air conditioning

The Paris organizing committee wanted this to be an AC-free Olympics. But some athletes have had other ideas.

They promised to host the “greenest” Olympics ever, a Games that would double as an eco-friendly model for a warming world. All involved in the planning of Paris 2024, from the IOC to politicians, seemed to be on board. They touted a plan to halve the carbon footprint of the Olympics. They’d ditch diesel generators for renewable energy; they’d shun gas-guzzling buses for electric vehicles; they’d repurpose existing venues and build repurposable ones, with seats made from recycled plastic.

For years, Paris Olympic organizers trumpeted their commitment to sustainability, and athletes…