NO FUN AND GAMES?
Irish Olympic athlete springs into action to show ‘anti-sex’ cardboard beds won’t collapse
IRISH gymnast Rhys McClenaghan was among the athletes who yesterday poked fun at being given ‘anti-sex’ beds at the Olympics.
The single beds in the Olympic Village are made out of recycled cardboard – prompting one US runner to claim they are designed to collapse under the weight of two.
McClenaghan, 21, from Co. Down, filmed himself bouncing on his cardboard bed to disprove the rumours that they would collapse under strain.
He said: ‘The beds that are meant to be anti-sex. They are made out of cardboard, yes, apparently they are meant to break under any sudden movements.’ He called the rumours ‘fake news’.
Former Love Island star Greg O’Shea, who is competing at the games for the Ireland Rugby Sevens team, also weighed in on the issue.
As he showed off his cardboard bed on an Instagram post, he wrote: ‘Getting a lot of messages on her off people wondering are the beds here in the Olympic village actually made of cardboard, and they are, look at this.’
He continued: ‘Supposedly the reason why they are made of cardboard
‘Break under sudden movement’
is obviously so they can be recycled after, but also to discourage any activities, I’ve been told.’
Tokyo 2020 bosses have banned sex as the Games gets under way in three days. They have threatened sanctions against athletes who breach coronavirus rules which include: ‘Keep physical interactions with others to a minimum... including hugs.’
However, they dismissed claims the 18,000 cardboard box beds installed in the athletes’ accommodation were designed to discourage sex.
American distance runner Paul Chelimo tweeted: ‘Beds in Tokyo Olympic Village made of cardboard – this is aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes.
‘Beds will be able to withstand the weight of a single person to avoid situations beyond sports. I see no problem for distance runners, even four of us can do,’ he joked.
But the International Olympic Committee’s communications chief Christian Claue yesterday hit back, saying the claims were a ‘myth’. The beds were made of cardboard to be environmentally friendly and were ‘sustainable and sturdy’, he said.
Athletes have been told that they should not be mixing with other nations at the Olympic Village and that Covid-19 protocols have to be observed all the time.
Condoms have been given to Olympic Games participants since the 1988 Seoul Olympics – a move designed to raise awareness of Aids while also encouraging safer sex. While Tokyo 2020 organisers will follow suit, it is not to encourage athletes to get intimate but to encourage the safe sex message when they go home.
The Tokyo Olympics Organising Committee told Japan Today: ‘Our intent and goal is not for athletes to use the condoms at the Olympic Village, but to help with awareness by taking them back to their own countries.’
With the opening ceremony on Friday, Tokyo is in a state of emergency with rising Covid cases.
Organisers have imposed draconian rules on athletes, officials and media to reassure the public.
The event is hugely unpopular in Japan, with 80% of locals saying they would rather it was cancelled. But Japan would be liable for €3.45billion in lost TV rights, and has already spent €23 billion to host the 2020 Games, which have already been delayed a year.