What are the Olympic Village rules and why are there cardboard beds at the 2024 Olympics in Paris?

The historic Olympic Village has returned to Paris after a century, following its original construction for the 1924 Summer Games. Over time, the housing has undergone substantial changes from the small wooden barracks.

It comes as no surprise that, with time and experience, rules and guidelines are enforced to ensure the safety and well-being of each country’s competitors. The first rule for accessing the Village is that only athletes are allowed to stay there, while coaches and team officials are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances.

Every delegation has its own set of guidelines, and they are managed differently. Still, the guidelines have a “primary goal”: protecting the athletes and providing them with an environment that can help their performance.

Team USA rules and guidelines

Visitors

Team USA permits only athletes and select staff to enter its quarters. A specific number of accreditations are allocated to team leaders, staff, medical personnel, and sometimes security. Coaches are not allowed on the premises.

Family and friends of the athletes are also not allowed entry into the Olympic Village. This decision is made to create a healthy and safe environment focused on high performance and minimizing distractions. However, athletes can leave the Village and meet with their families in Paris if they wish, but families are not allowed to enter it.

Only nursing athlete mothers can bring their infants to the Village Nursery.

Personal security and weapons and firearms at the Olympic Village

The organization of the Olympic Village prioritizes safety, with firearms and other weapons being strictly prohibited.

Also, there’s a huge security perimeter around the Village, with checkpoints almost like going through airport security. Given the number of high-profile athletes residing in the Olympic Village, it’s understandable why many would want the extra support from their personal security guards. They are not living in, but they’ll come in for specific moments, like the Opening Ceremony or the committee’s protocol activities.

Roomating in the Village

The number of people in a room depends on the size of the team, and the sports team leaders make that decision. Once their allocation has been given, the team leader will decide who they want to room with. They’ll make the decision depending on how many beds they have, how many apartments they have, and how many rooms are in each apartment.

Customizing mattresses and the infamous cardboard beds

During the 2020 Tokyo Games, the famous cardboard beds in the Olympic Village gained attention and are set to return for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The beds are pretty rigid and constructed from segmented cardboard. They consist of three pieces of cardboard that can be separated into different sections. Some of the beds also feature cardboard extensions. The mattresses are also quite firm. Nonetheless, the athletes, who arguably require the best sleep in preparation for the most important competition of their lives, are able to customize their mattresses according to their personal preferences.

There is a designated area in the Village where athletes can receive guidance on the mattresses. They can show you how to flip the mattress based on your sleep type. Each side offers a different comfort level based on your preferred firmness, and they will educate you on how to adjust the mattress.

Various methods allow athletes to adjust the mattress, making it firmer or softer. Furthermore, Team USA’s policies cover the costs of any mattress toppers for added comfort. There is one exception to the cardboard beds, and that is for our Track and Field throwers.

USA Track and Field provides bigger beds for its athletes, who, due to their size, require something more comfortable.

Other rules of conduct in the Olympic Village

- Athletes at the Olympic Village must observe quiet hours to ensure they get enough rest. Team USA imposes quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. local time in their residence halls. This aims to create a distraction-free environment and show respect for all athletes. While there isn’t a strict curfew, athletes are expected to be mindful of their noise levels to allow everyone to rest and recover.

- Alcohol is not permitted in the Olympic Village for the Team USA delegation. The village is dry for Team USA, meaning that no alcohol is allowed in our buildings before, during, or after competition. This rule applies even after athletes have finished competing.

- Athletes must reside with the country they are representing but are allowed to socialize with athletes from other teams in the Olympic Village. Athletes are also allowed to have sex in the Olympic Village. After 2020 Tokyo Olympics infamously made headlines when a sex ban was placed on the Olympic Village, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic that enforced social distancing. This year, the ban has been lifted and Team USA is doing what they can to promote a healthy environment for its athletes. In fact, around 600,000 condoms have been distributed to the Paris Olympic Village. And the packaging is quite spectacular!

- The Olympic Village offers a wide range of resources for Team USA, including a sports medicine clinic, an athlete-only space, mental health providers, sports dietitians, and a dedicated strength and conditioning space. There are also salons, a P&G store, a gift shop with Paris 2024 memorabilia, and an athlete center with video games.

- Athletes at the Olympic Village are allowed to bring their own food, but they also have access to various food stations within the grounds. The dining hall offers six food stations, including options like world food, Asian food, Latin American food, halal, and a vegetarian section. There’s also a quick grab-and-go spot with a French bakery and coffee bars. Athletes can even learn how to make baguettes at a dedicated station. If athletes have specific dietary needs, their sports can ship in food products to the Village to accommodate those needs.

- Apologies, but pets are not allowed in the Olympic Village. This is due to French governmental regulations regarding the certification of therapy dogs, rather than the Paris 2024 regulations.

- Athletes at the Olympic Village have access to 600 communal bikes, electric shuttles, and vans for transportation. The compact village has routes throughout its grounds and is located by the river, making it ideal for jogging and other workouts.

- Not all qualifying athletes are required to live in the Olympic Village during the Games. It is optional for the teams to choose whether they want to stay in the village or not. For example, the USA Basketball Team does not stay in the Olympic Village.

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