Fact-check: These are NOT anti-sex beds at Olympics Games village
With just a few days to go for the Tokyo Olympics, the Games have been hit by fake news.
FollowWith just a few days to go for the Tokyo Olympics, the Games have been hit by fake news.
Trouble started when American sprinter Paul Chelimo took to social media to share the pictures of specially-designed beds for athletes and wrote: "Beds to be installed in Tokyo Olympic Village will be made of cardboard. This is aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes."
"Beds will be able to withstand the weight of a single person to avoid situations beyond sports. I see no problem for distance runners, even 4 of us can do," he further added.Â
Media outlets latched on to Paul's remark. The word spread like wildfire about the 'anti-sex' beds in the Olympics Village. Various reports claimed that the beds have been placed to avoid athletes from getting intimate amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The reality, however, is completely different.
Though the beds are indeed made of cardboard, it is strong enough and will not break easily.Â
Debunking the 'anti-sex' bed myth, Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan shared a video where he filmed himself jumping repeatedly on the bed.
Sharing his video on Twitter, McClenaghan said, "In today's episode of fake news at the Olympic Games, the beds that are meant to be anti-sex. The beds are meant to be anti-sex. They're made out of cardboard, yes, but apparently, they are meant to break with sudden movements. It's fake -- fake news!"
Confirming the same, the official Olympics Twitter account thanked McLenaghan for "debunking the myth", adding "the sustainable beds are sturdy!"
In September 2019, the organisers unveiled the bed's design and to show Tokyo 2020's commitment towards sustainability.Â
Thousands of athletes are expected to stay at the Olympic Village during the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games, which are set to start on Friday.Â
Further, the organisers made a deal with condom companies to hand out 160,000 condoms for the athletes in the Village.Â
Top Image Courtesy:Â Paul Chelimo/Twitter
