The “anti-sex” cardboard beds have been a topic of controversy since they were first introduced at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. These beds were reportedly designed to discourage athletes from engaging in intimate activities during the post-Covid period. However, many athletes have criticized these beds for being uncomfortable and hard. A recent video on Instagram has brought these issues back into the spotlight. In the video, an athlete is seen half-asleep on her bed, expressing her dissatisfaction with the bed's comfort by saying that the “beds are s***”. The caption of the video humorously reads, “More news on BedGate 2024”.
As the video continues, the athlete complains further about the beds, highlighting their inadequacy. The video also includes a clip from Australian water polo player Tilly Kearns, who revealed that the Australian Olympians at the 2024 Paris Olympics received mattress toppers to alleviate the discomfort of the hard beds. This video has gone viral on social media, amassing over 3.6 million views. The viral nature of the video has sparked outrage among viewers, many of whom are questioning how athletes are supposed to perform at their best if they cannot get a proper night's sleep.
Instagram users have been vocal in their reactions. One user questioned, “Can you imagine the kind of performance we would get from athletes if they actually got a proper night's sleep now?” Another added, “How are these athletes supposed to perform when they sleep on shoe boxes?” A third user suggested a more practical solution: “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 criticized the decision, stating, “Whoever thought this was a good idea needs to get fired.”
🇫🇷 Beds made of cardboard! The Olympic athletes showed their rooms in the Olympic village:
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) July 24, 2024
"I'm not kidding! The Olympic bed, as you can see, is made of cardboard! "
Olympic organizers made the athletes' beds out of cardboard, explaining this "so that athletes could not have… pic.twitter.com/hcFgWFINpX
These complaints echo similar criticisms from the Tokyo Olympics, where the cardboard beds were first introduced. Takashi Kitajima, the general manager of the Tokyo Athletes Village, explained to the Associated Press in 2020 that the beds were part of an initiative to use recyclable materials. He also noted that the beds could hold up to 200 kg of weight. Despite these intentions, the organizers of the Paris Olympics adopted the same bed frame design this year, continuing the debate over their practicality and comfort.
Image Source: Twitter