...
...
Next Story

Athlete reveals how it feels to sleep on ‘anti-sex’ cardboard bed at 2024 Paris Olympics: ‘Beds are s***’

The “anti-sex” cardboard beds were introduced in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. According to an official statement, it was to incorporate recyclable material.

Updated on: Jul 30, 2024, 08:59:39 IST
Advertisement

The “anti-sex” cardboard beds have always been in the eye of controversy since their debut in Tokyo in 2021. Reportedly, the beds were constructed to stop athletes from getting intimate with one another during the post-Covid period. However, several athletes have slammed the beds as uncomfortable and hard. A recent video on Instagram highlights the very same issues. In the video, an athlete is seen saying that the “beds are s***”.

The image shows an athlete's reaction to sleeping on an ‘anti-sex’ cardboard bed at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Screengrab)
The image shows an athlete's reaction to sleeping on an ‘anti-sex’ cardboard bed at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Screengrab)

“More news on BedGate 2024,” reads the caption to the video shared on an Instagram page. In the video, an athlete is seen half-asleep on her bed with a text insert appearing on the screen that reads, “Update on the Olympic cardboard beds. The first word that came out of her mouth this morning.”

Also Read: Olympians are turning to OnlyFans: A steamy side hustle to ease financial struggles

As the video progresses, the athlete is seen complaining about the beds. The video also shows a snippet from a clip posted by Australian water polo player Tilly Kearns. There, she reveals that the Olympians from her country at the 2024 Paris Olympics have received mattress toppers to make sleeping on hard beds easier.

Take a look at the viral video:

“Can you imagine the kind of performance we would get from athletes if they actually got a proper night's sleep now?” questioned an Instagram user. Another added, “How are these athletes supposed to perform when they sleep on shoe boxes?”

A third individual expressed, “Just buy normal beds and then donate them to the poor! There are millions of people that urgently need a new mattress/bed and can’t afford it.” A fourth wrote, “Whoever thought this was a good idea needs to get fired.” A few pointed out that similar beds were provided in the Tokyo Olympics.

Also Read: Nita Ambani’s Swadesh bring a touch of Indian luxury to Paris

About the cardboard beds:

“The organising committee was thinking about recyclable items, and the bed was one of the ideas,” Takashi Kitajima, the general manager of the Tokyo Athletes Village, told the Associated Press in 2020. The GM added that the beds can hold 200 kg of weight. This year, the organisers of the Paris Olympics also adopted the bed frame design.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.

Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Notifications

Get breaking alerts directly from the newsroom

Notifications are on!You'll be notified when news breaks