The 2024 Summer Olympics officially kicked off on Friday, July 26, and Team South Africa is ready to represent the country in Paris, France.
South African Olympic athlete and professional skateboarder Brandon Valjalo took to TikTok to give supporters a glimpse into Olympic hospitality and where the athletes will be staying.
“A first look at the 2024 Paris Olympic beds. Just pulled up to the village and had to run it back up yall,” said Valjalo.
@brandonvaljalo Just pulled up to the village and had to run it back up yall! #olympics #paris2024 #brandonvaljalo ♬ son original - TRINIX
It seems the notorious cardboard beds have made a comeback at this year’s Olympics as the pro-skateboarder and other athletes shared videos of the type of beds they will be resting on for the duration of the games.
The cardboard beds surfaced in 2020 at the Tokyo Games and, according to news site Wired.com, organisers of the French Olympic Games let it be known that Airweave, the Japanese company that managed the athletes' rest in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was the official bedding supporter of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The rigid cardboard beds are loved for their easy transportation, assembly and recyclability; however, when they arrived they were dubbed "no-sex beds“ as some thought they were part of a strategy to discourage athletes from having sex.
Reacting to Valjalo’s video, South African netizens shared their views on the controversial cardboard beds.
@shegoesbymelissa said: “Then mama joy would've been up in a 5 star hotel all expenses paid hayike.”
@_zboltz_ added: “These athletes push their bodies harder than anyone. They deserve a real bed to rest in 🤯.”
@pymvere wrote: “Why people are shocked? these beds used in previous Olympics and it's eco friendly but really strong.”
Whilst @maalikahbassier5 took a swipe at the host country, which previously had a bed bug infestation, and said: “Cardboard beds wow. I think its bc of the bug infestation last time😳😳.”