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Olympic diver Tom Daley has shown fans what the cardboard beds in the Paris 2024 Olympic Village really look like.
Before the prestigious athletic competition officially kicks off in a few days, the 30-year-old Olympian gave his TikTok followers a sneak peek at the polarizing cardboard beds in this year’s Olympic Village. In a July 22 TikTok, Daley vouched for the sturdiness of the eco-friendly furniture, showing skeptical viewers evidence of its solid structure by banging on the headboard and pulling on the bedpost.
“This is cardboard,” Tom explained to viewers. “Then you have the mattress and then this cardboard with the mattress on top and a mattress topper. And then, we have our own Paris '24.” [comforter].”
“Rêvez vos exploits de demain,” it says on top of the bed, which translates to “Dream about your achievements of tomorrow.” The 30-year-old showed viewers the cute detail as he jumped on the bed, adding: “As you can see, they’re pretty sturdy!”
The beds have come under scrutiny from athletes and spectators since they were unveiled during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, however, many Olympians took to social media to show spectators that the beds were not only sturdy but also comfortable.
“The bed in the video has already been recycled,” Israeli baseball player Ben Wanger said in a since-deleted TikTok video of himself and eight of his teammates jumping on a bed to debunk a viral rumor that the Olympic committee had chosen cardboard beds to discourage sexual relations between athletes. “We really enjoyed sleeping on these beds and believe they are an excellent and sustainable option for future Olympics.”
Olympic organizers stressed that the beds were not intended to be “anti-sex,” but rather to symbolize the competition’s commitment to sustainability.
“We know the media has had a lot of fun with this story since Tokyo 2020,” Olympic organisers said. Reuters In May, the choice of these beds for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Village responds primarily to a broader ambition: to ensure minimal environmental impact and a second life for all the equipment used during the short period of the Games.
Despite the emphasis that they were not created to curb the sexual appetites of Olympic athletes, rumours about after-school extracurricular activities are not unfounded. In the past, Olympians such as figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, 53, have openly acknowledged the effects that competition has on athletes, especially when it comes to what happens in the Olympic village.
“The Olympic Games are an incredible experience,” the gold medalist explained to Electronic News Earlier this year, she told me, “Around you, you meet a lot of amazing idols and people you look up to. I think of course people, after they finish competing, have fun.”
Host countries began distributing condoms to athletes, starting with France in 1992 during the Winter Olympics in Albertville. News from heavenAn estimated 150,000 condoms were distributed at the Tokyo Games, and with pandemic-era restrictions lifted for the Paris Games, 300,000 condoms are reported to be available this year.
