The fact that the Tokyo Olympics village provided cardboard beds saw rumours spread that it was an anti-sex measure due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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The Tokyo Olympics haven’t yet gotten underway but are already in the news for all the wrong reasons. Athletes and others have tested positive for COVID-19. A large number of athletes have pulled out due to COVID-related concerns. And the Japanese people are vehemently against even having the Games in the first place.
And a recent news report didn’t do much to help quell the stream of bizarre headlines. The beds provided to athletes at the Olympics village are made from cardboard.
This led to speculation that the Village put this in place as an anti-sex measure. After all, with restrictions needed due to the ongoing pandemic, the organisers would want to avoid any unneccesary contact being made.
That could best be done by providing less than sturdy beds to athletes, one that could support only a single person. Right? Well, not so much as it turns out.
Irish athlete Rhys McClenaghan took to Twitter to post a video of him jumping up and down the bed. He even poked fun at the idea that the beds were ‘anti-sex’.
The Olympics’ official Twitter account also quickly retweeted it. “Thanks for debunking the myth! You heard it first from @TeamIreland gymnast @McClenaghanRhys the sustainable cardboard beds are sturdy! #Tokyo2020,” said the tweet.
Thanks for debunking the myth.?You heard it first from @TeamIreland gymnast @McClenaghanRhys – the sustainable cardboard beds are sturdy! #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/lsXbQokGVE
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 19, 2021
But, as it turns out, there is a simple reason for the beds being made of cardboard. It is not to prevent any sexual activity, but to ensure the beds can be recycled after the Games.
The original rumour spread from a sarcastic tweet made by US distance runner Paul Chelimo. “Beds will (only) be able to withstand the weight of a single person to avoid situations beyond sports,” he tweeted.
Thousands of athletes will stay at the Olympic Village during the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games, which start on Friday.
