WCG: A hot competition

CINCINNATI - Hot, muy caliente ... no matter how you say it, you know what it’s like outside.

The sun beat down on Fountain Square Friday afternoon like an oven baking a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies.

For some visiting the Queen City for the World Choir Games, it's a bit of a climate shock—but cooling down, now that’s universal.

Between the international dancing and music from around the globe, the heat index of 110 degrees is making Cincinnati feel like it's sitting atop the equator.

"Cincinnati is extremely hot," said a singer from Hong Kong as he vigorously fanned himself.

No matter their culture, beating the heat is unspoken.

From ice cream to cardboard hand fans, dipping feet into the fountain or standing in front of the large, yellow, misting fans set up to cool folks down, everyone did what they had to do, to enjoy the performances without overheating.

Canada, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong weighed in on Cincinnati’s heat.

"We're not use to it. It's a big change in temperature," said a Canadian singer who said that up north in Ontario it’s about 30 degrees cooler—not the case in the Middle East.

"The weather here is not so hot. In Saudi Arabia, so, so, so hot."

"Very hot, oh yi!" said the choir from China, holding bottles of water and laughing.

Whatever the language, amidst the music, one thing is understood by everyone... it is HOT.

In the distance and over the singers on stage, the words: "Ice cold water! Enjoy… compliments of the City of Cincinnati. This round's on us!" were heard.

Chandri Collins with Cincinnati Water Works, helped cool down the hot and sticky situation during the World Choir Games on Fountain Square. In the process, she learned a thing or two from those taking her cup of ice cold cheer.

"Neehi, buenos dias, buenos aires, bonjour."

She served 'em up and kept 'em coming.

"Straight up, no chaser young man,” she laughed.

"Calorie free... no sugar, no sodium."

"If we don't give it away, it'll be hot water."

Every word, every cup handed out was said with a big smile.

But she refreshed them with more than "ice cold water!" she shouted from behind the table full of small, white, paper cups.

"Some people have traveled far to get here. I don't know what accommodations that met them, their temporary residence at this time, if something went wrong, a button popped off, or a shoe lace popped or broke or something… in the midst of all of that, you still have show up and do what you do... well, in the midst of all of that, you want to offer some friendly conversation and a winning smile." 

And while she served smiles, the singing took no break from the heat.

"Thanks for letting us serve you," she said waving.