Olympians Put Cardboard Beds to the Test, But It's Not What You Think

As a seasoned sports journalist who has covered numerous Olympics, I have seen it all – from state-of-the-art training facilities to the most bizarre rules that leave athletes scratching their heads.

At the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics, athletes are sharing valuable and gold medal-equivalent insights about Olympic Village before the competition even begins.

I myself have witnessed the actions of Ilona Maher, a committed member of Team USA rugby. She boldly challenged the notoriety of those infamous “anti-sex” cardboard beds.

Ilona and her fellow Olympians returned to the Olympic Village, testing out the cardboard beds in a TikTok video uploaded on July 23. She expressed her apprehension about the beds potentially breaking but was determined to give it a try. “Hey there, we’re back at the Olympic Village trying out the cardboard beds,” Ilona shared. “Am I scared they might crack? Absolutely. But let’s give it a go!”

As a lifestyle expert, I’d suggest: “Just like determined athletes, my team and I have put the bed to the test, exploring every possible scenario to see what could potentially damage it. We tried out various unconventional methods such as a three-person simulated childbirth, gymnastics routines, an intense wrestling match that required intervention, breakdancing moves, the infamous 2013 Vine dance “Grind on Me,” and even an Irish jig, jokingly remarking, “We don’t intend to offend any Irish people.” We left no stone unturned in our quest to understand the bed’s limits.”

Amazingly, throughout all of the increasingly hilarious tests, the cardboard bed remained intact.

As a devoted fan of Team USA rugby, I can’t help but notice that they weren’t the ones to initially reveal the sleeping quarters of British diver Tom Daley. He was the one who recently showed us a sneak peek in his own video.

Tom described in his July 22 TikTok: “This is a piece of cardboard. Next, there’s the mattress on top of it. Then, add another layer with the cardboard and the mattress on bottom, followed by our Paris ’24 comforter.”

At the age of 30, he participated in his fifth Olympic Games at Paris 2024. To ensure comfort, he performed some rigorous jumps on the bed and remarked, “As you observe, they are quite robust!”

During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the unusual and delicate design of the beds became a social media sensation. There were rumors that these beds were intended to discourage sexual activity in the Olympic Village, infamous for its rowdy behavior.

But according to the company behind the bed, that is a complete misnomer.

As a seasoned journalist with years of experience covering Olympic Games, I’ve seen my fair share of rumors and misinformation circulating around the Athletes’ Village. But the one that stood out to me during the last Olympics was particularly amusing. According to Airweave COO Brett Thornton, who recently shared this story with TopMob News, the rumor started due to strict COVID-19 protocols discouraging athletes from mingling.

Although he acknowledged that the beds might appear flimsy, both the beds and their mattresses were engineered to ensure a firm sleeping surface for athletes, promoting proper spine alignment and contributing to deeper, more restorative sleep.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “When I’m snoozing soundly on my memory foam mattress at night, turning over can be quite an ordeal. It requires so much energy that I’m jolted out of my deep REM sleep. Afterward, it takes another five minutes for me to settle back in and resume my peaceful slumber.”

Additionally, these beds come with an added benefit: they are eco-friendly. Once the Olympic Village is dismantled, the beds and their mattresses will be recyclable.

Eagerly anticipating the intriguing regulations that Olympic athletes must abide by during the 2024 Games? Come along with me as we delve deeper into this fascinating topic.

If you’re planning to attend the Olympics in Paris, I’ve got some disappointing news for potato lovers like myself: French fries will not be served at the Olympic Village this year. Chef Charles Guilloy, the mastermind behind the Olympic Village catering, shared with The New York Times back in May that due to safety concerns over deep-fat fryers and potential fire hazards, they decided against including this beloved dish on the menu. So, unfortunately, we’ll all have to satisfy our French fry cravings elsewhere during the games.

At the athletic village, athletes cannot obtain foie gras due to concerns over animal welfare, and they will not be able to enjoy avocado toast as avocados are imported from far-off places and require an extensive amount of water.

At the Olympic Village, athletes may long to raise a glass in celebration of their victories, but they’ll be unable to do so with a bottle of bubbly on hand. Instead, Laurent Michaud, Director of the Olympic and Paralympic Villages, shared with Sky News that while there won’t be any champagne available in the village itself, athletes are more than welcome to indulge in as many bottles as they desire in Paris. Additionally, despite the presence of a sports bar within the village, it will not be serving alcoholic beverages. Instead, Michaud explained, the focus has been on creating spaces where athletes can connect and share their experiences and values in a comfortable setting. The village club features a lounge and sports bar stocked with Coca-Cola (and no alcohol), providing an ideal place for athletes to unwind and celebrate together.

During the Summer Games, discussing the absence of air conditioning is a possible topic for athletes to initiate conversation.

However, the Olympic authorities have chosen not to install air conditioners in the athlete quarters and instead opted for alternative methods to keep cool.

Yann Krysinski, SOLIDEO’s Senior Vice President, shared with Reuters in February that they designed the buildings to be comfortable without air conditioning. He explained that they positioned the facades to minimize sun exposure during summer and improved insulation for efficiency.

Furthermore, Krysinski mentioned that they will provide cool water from underground sources to help regulate the temperature inside the apartments. Consequently, athletes should not require air conditioning during their stay.

Despite this initiative, some competitors have expressed dissatisfaction with this decision. The United States Olympic Committee’s CEO, Sarah Hirshland, confirmed that Team USA will have air conditioning in their rooms. According to The Washington Post, Britain, Canada, and Italy are also bringing air conditioning units.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the guidelines advised us, the athletes, to limit our physical contact with others due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Some even joked about the cardboard beds being dubbed “anti-romance” or “anti-intimacy” beds on social media. Despite this, organizers distributed condoms to us, not for personal use, but to take back home and promote awareness of HIV and AIDS.

As a former athlete who has competed at the international level, I can attest to the importance of social media presence in today’s sports world. However, I also understand that sharing content on social media comes with certain responsibilities and guidelines, especially during major events like the Olympics.

If you’re making efforts to save the planet, that’s worthy of a gold medal recognition.

I’ve always found running to be a deeply personal and freeing experience for me. And as someone who has competed in several races throughout my life, I’ve learned that one aspect of the race can be surprisingly flexible: footwear.

Abebe Bikila, hailing from Ethiopia, astonishingly competed and triumphed in the marathon at the 1960 Olympics in Rome without any footwear. Likewise, Zola Budd represented Great Britain in the 3,000 meters race barefoot during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and finished in seventh place.

In case a tennis ball collides with a bird flying above during a game, the International Tennis Federation rules state that this constitutes an interference, resulting in the point being restarted.

If you find yourself in a canoe with a busted paddle, it’s safer to abandon that vessel. According to international regulations for canoe slalom races, an athlete with a broken paddle should retreat or complete the course on their own. The damaged part of the paddle is deemed hazardous, and they may choose to discard it and utilize their hands instead.

2024-07-25 22:18

Olympians Put Cardboard Beds to the Test, But It’s Not What You Think

Read More