Cardboard Olympic Beds Are Not Intended To Be Anti-Sex
The Claim
Olympic Athletes have been provided cardboard beds that wouldn’t support more than one person, with the intent to stop them from having sex.
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Emerging story
Athletes are moving to Olympic Village and the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics are set to begin in only a few days. Social media continues to discuss everything from Sha’ Carri Richardson’s penalties for drug use to new allegations that cardboard beds provided to Olympic athletes are purposely flimsy. The original claim came from Olympic runner Paul Chelimo, and viral rumors of the beds began to spread. Posts are claiming the intention behind these beds is to stop athletes from having sex.
Misbar’s Analysis
Our investigation found these claims to be fake. The general manager of the Athlete’s Village Takashi Kitajima assured the press that the beds are extremely sturdy and can support up to 440 pounds. Seeking to minimize waste, the bed’s design is reported to be stronger than wood. Irish gymnast Rhys McClenahan sought to further debunk the claim by jumping on one of the beds. He provided video evidence of the bed’s sturdiness.
False claims are often associated with the increased risk of COVID-19 at this year’s Olympics. The Olympic Athletes Village has long been known to enjoy rowdy parties, and officials even began distributing condoms to athletes in 1988. This year Olympic officials have asked athletes to limit all physical contact because of the virus, and assumptions were drawn that cardboard beds were an attempt to prohibit some of that contact. Attempts to stop COVID-19 among athletes are prudent as cases have already been seen and are expected to increase.
