The organisers at Paris Olympics 2024 took an initiative to reduce carbon footprint. In doing so, they made various compromises including the elimination of air conditioning, cardboard beds etc. This led to many athletes leaving the Olympic village and finding their own accommodation around the venue. Athletes also had to take trips to the grocery store to meet their basic needs like toilet paper.
Australia's tennis star Daria Saville posted a photo of her carrying toilet paper and wrote, “We don't really have hotel-like housekeeping here in the Olympic village, so you have to get your own toilet paper."
Also, USA’s star gymnast Simone Biles said that she is using extra mattress toppers to make the cardboard beds comfortable. Another athlete, Australia’s water polo player feels that the mattresses are "rock hard" and not fit for sleeping.
Not all doom and gloom at the Olympics
She documented the good side of the facilities as well. Athletes get free haircuts at beauty salon. They get beauty products and freebies like new shoes, 50,000 Qantas points, luggage and new Samsung smartphones.
Not enough space
In a video posted by 20-year-old Coco Gauff, she showed 10 girls managing to get ready in two bathrooms. She said that the two rooms are enough for only eight athletes instead of 10. She also revealed that all other tennis players from USA contingent have left the Olympic village for hotels.
No air conditioning causes controversy
The lack of air conditioning has been addressed by the organisers by installing a system that regulates temperatures of the room with cold water sourced from 70 metres underground which circulates through the floors. Due to heatwave in Europe, the decision to not provide air conditioning has been heavily criticised. USA have already arranged for portable ACs.
Commute becomes a big problem
Basic amenities are not the only reason why athletes have left the Olympic village and booked hotels. Six South Korean swimmers left the Olympic village even before the opening ceremony which took place on July 26. They did not leave because of lack of comfort but the long commute to the venue. Participating in men's 4x200-metre freestyle relay event, were unhappy with the 40-minute commute to the La Defense Arena which is 12 km away from the Olympic village but due to security restrictions it takes longer to reach.
This led to Paris 2024 CEO Etienne Thobois releasing a statement saying that reserve buses have been assigned to cut down the commute time.
“At the beginning of the operations we’ve had some problems concerning the transportation of the athletes, especially before the Games started,” Thobois said. “We’ve taken measures since then with reserve (buses) to serve the athletes in the best possible way and I think the system is now operating perfectly.”
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