`Anti-Sex' beds in Tokyo Olympics? No way
Images of beds with a blue blanket inscribed with ‘Tokyo 2020’ along with cardboard beds are viral on social media.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 21 July 2021 9:24 AM GMT
HYDERABAD: Images of beds with a blue blanket inscribed with 'Tokyo 2020' along with cardboard beds are viral on social media.
Netizens claim that the Olympic athletes have been given these cardboard 'anti-sex' beds in order to avoid intimacy among athletes.
"Anti-Sex bed" for Tokyo Olympics athletes: Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics have set "Anti-Sex bed" for the athletes to maintain social distancing due to the widespread of COVID-19 in Japan," reads the claim.
American distance runner and Olympic medalist Paul Chelimo also tweeted that these beds were constructed for "avoiding intimacy".
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FACT CHECK:
The claim is false.
Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan took to Twitter to debunk the claim. He filmed himself repeatedly jumping on the bed and said, "In today's episode of fake news at the Olympic Games, the beds are meant to be 'anti-sex'. They're made out of cardboard, yes, but apparently, they're meant to break at any sudden movements."
This tweet was then shared by the official Twitter account of the Olympics. It quickly responded to the rumors and thanked McClenaghan for debunking it. "Thanks for debunking the myth, You heard it first from Team Ireland gymnast Rhys McClenaghan - the sustainable cardboard beds are sturdy!" the tweet reads.
According to news reports by USA Today and AP News, the organizers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics decided to provide beds made out of cardboard for athletes to sleep in next summer. The beds are being provided by a Japanese bedding company Airweave. It is providing 18,000 "high resistance lightweight cardboard" beds with polyethylene mattresses. The beds were designed before COVID and aimed at promoting eco-consciousness as they are 100% recyclable. Takashi Kitajima, the general manager of the Athletes Village, said through an interpreter that the bed can stand up to 200 kilograms and is stronger than wooden beds.
Evidently, it is clear that these beds were not made with the intention of "Anti-Sex" or to ensure the athletes maintain social distancing due to the widespread of COVID-19 in Japan.
The claim is false.
