An athlete participating in the Winter Olympics has shared an update on social media regarding the condition of the accommodations following the previous ‘anti-sex bed’ controversy.
Many may recall the 2024 Paris Olympics, where athletes found themselves sleeping on cardboard beds in the Olympic Village. This move was rumored to discourage intimate encounters among athletes, considering the distribution of condoms and the close quarters that bring together numerous physically fit individuals.
The Olympic committee, however, insisted that the cardboard beds were chosen for sustainability reasons. It seems unlikely that athletes, known for their physical prowess, couldn’t find alternative arrangements if they wished.
With the Winter Olympics now in progress in Italy, questions have arisen about this year’s accommodation conditions.
Team GB ice dancer Phebe Bekker shared insights with her audience on TikTok, where she has 28,000 followers, about the beds at the Milan games.
In her video, Phebe addressed the curiosity surrounding the beds’ material, specifically if they were cardboard again.
“Are the beds cardboard?” she queried before knocking on the bed frame, which sounded solid.
She confirmed, “We’re looking good. That’s a mattress,” and added, “You heard it here first, there are no cardboard beds, well as far as I know.”
In a discussion, Phebe clarified that the decision to use proper beds was not necessarily about eliminating the so-called anti-sex beds.
It’s important to understand that the Olympic Committee has plans for the accommodations after the games conclude.
Once the Olympics wrap up, the housing will transition into Italy’s largest student accommodation.
Given this future use, it makes sense to have durable furniture rather than recycling cardboard beds post-games.
Phebe is set to compete in ice dancing for Team GB with her partner, James Hernandez.
Ice dancing is a category of figure skating that integrates ballroom dancing elements, with pairs performing on the ice together.