This archive report was first published on 19 July 2021.
At the Tokyo Olympic Village, athletes will be staying in cardboard beds that have been a subject of controversy. On July 19, 2021, organisers reassured that the beds are 'sturdy' after a report in the New York Post raised concerns about their strength.
Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan filmed himself jumping repeatedly on a bed to demonstrate the point, following the report's claim that the beds were designed to be flimsy to promote social distancing.
McClenaghan took to Twitter to express his skepticism, saying, 'The beds are meant to be anti-sex. They're made out of cardboard, yes, but apparently they're meant to break with sudden movements. It's fake — fake news!'
The official Olympics Twitter account responded by thanking McClenaghan for 'debunking the myth' and stating that the sustainable beds are indeed sturdy.
However, the report in the New York Post was based on a tweet by US distance runner Paul Chelimo, who jokingly suggested that the cardboard beds were 'aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes.'
Chelimo's tweet read, 'Beds will (only) be able to withstand the weight of a single person to avoid situations beyond sports.'
Despite the controversy, the manufacturer of the beds, Airweave, has maintained that they can withstand a weight of 200 kilos (440 pounds) and have undergone rigorous stress tests.
Thousands of athletes will be staying at the Olympic Village during the 2020 Tokyo Games, which start on Friday. Organisers have also distributed 160,000 condoms, but clarified that they are meant to be brought back by athletes to their respective home countries to support the campaign to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.
