Athletes arriving in Tokyo for the Summer Olympics are amazed when they enter their not exactly spacious rooms. As is well known, good sleep also brings good performance – but sleep is becoming an issue in Tokyo for Olympians from all over the world. Beds are really only there to sleep. For a maximum of one person per bed.
The beds are made of good old cardboard. The folding cardboard bed frames were designed by the Japanese company Airweave – including mattresses made of unspecified «Airfiber» material. Airweave delivered 18,000 such cardboard beds and mattresses to the Tokyo Games.
Now the rounds of athletes are making the rounds, which is why they must sleep on paper beds: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) supposedly wants to prevent sex between the athletes. A pastime that has a tradition in games, but was even banned this year due to Covid. A few athletes have already tested positive for the virus. The US tennis miracle Coco Gauff (17) must therefore bury her Olympic dreams and stay at home, as she announced on Twitter on Sunday.
Deterrent effect?
The US athletics star Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo (30) takes his paper bed lightly. For the long-distance runner it is clear that the organizers do not want it to bang between the athletes. Because theoretically such a cardboard bed can only carry the weight of one person.
The lightweight Chelimo writes on Twitter: “I don’t see a problem for long-distance runners, even four of us can do that.”
“Even more stress in front of Tokyo”
Unnecessary stress before the competitions, adds Chelimo. And bed-wetting people would have particular problems. Once the box has softened, it is “particularly annoying the night before a final”.
That only leads to “even more stress in front of Tokyo”, said the athlete. He’s training better now to sleep on the floor. Because if his bed collapses, he’s done for.
At least Tokyo isn’t breaking the tradition of handing out condoms at the games. But according to a Japanese media report, they are more intended as a souvenir. (kes)
Published: 07/19/2021, 12 minutes ago
Last updated: 19.07.2021, 3 minutes ago