Air Conditioning Debate at Rio Aquatics Center

(ATR) The International Aquatics Federation says that air conditioning should be installed at the Olympic Park aquatics center, but the city continues to assess the situation.

FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu described the venue to ATR as an "indoor, outdoor pool complex," that could use more ventilation at the pool level. Marculescu remains impressed with the venue after seeing it in use, saying athlete feedback remains positive.

In order to save money on energy costs, the aquatics venue has no artificial ventilation system. The temporary venue is wrapped in a fabric that will facilitate a natural cooling system for spectators and athletes.

"The only thing for us now is to be sure that the level of the pool can have this artificial ventilation so the athletes have the necessary air and it is not too hot or too cold depending on the weather outside," Marculescu added. "In general what I hear is the athletes are happy, the water is okay, and they feel good in the pool. No news is good news."

The aquatics venue is currently in control of the Rio 2016 organizing committee. Rio city hall is currently assessing the need for a potential air conditioning system, but has no timeline for when that decision will be reached, a spokesperson told ATR.

Rio 2016 aquatics venue manager Ricardo Prado told ATR that they will do whatever city hall decides, but are focused on continuing to get the venue Olympics ready. Prado says that Rio 2016 "worked hard the last four or five days," to prepare the competition field of play, the athlete warm-up area, the locker rooms, and the athlete lounges for the Brazilian national swimming championships. The event is the final chance for Brazilian swimmers to qualify for the Olympic Games, although foreign swimmers are participating.

"Since the first morning there were some great results," Prado said. "Oh a lot [still needs to be done], especially with the air conditioning work. Some of the operational rooms are not ready. We think it is great for the test event."

Cesar Cielo, three time Olympic medalist from Brazil, told ATR that it would be nice for the venue to feature air conditioning at pool level. Cielo is working to qualify for his third straight Olympics and shared his excitement for seeing the stands full during the first Latin American Olympics.

"It’s very exciting; we’re super excited about everything and we can’t imagine the whole stands being crowded with Brazilian people," Cielo said.

"We would choose to feel warm rather than cold, but we need a little bit more oxygen inside, as it feels like it is getting a little stuffy right now. I don’t think that’s disturbing any of the performances right now, and we’ll see how it is with 15,000 people around, if it is going to change. I think it may help to have some ventilation."

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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