The Olympic Village, touted as an eco-friendly haven, has turned out to be a nightmare for athletes competing in the games. Italian swimmer Thomas Ceccon, who won gold in the 100-meter backstroke, was so exhausted that he failed to qualify for the 200-meter event. Ceccon attributed his fatigue to the unbearable living conditions in the village.
“It’s hard to sleep, both at night and in the afternoon,” Ceccon said, citing the sweltering heat and noise as major distractions. In a desperate bid to catch some rest, Ceccon was spotted taking a nap on a sheet outside his building, where it was slightly cooler.
Ceccon is not alone in his complaints. Many athletes have expressed dissatisfaction with the village’s accommodations, including the lack of air conditioning, subpar food, and uncomfortable beds. The absence of air conditioning, in particular, has been a major point of contention, despite organizers’ initial claims that the eco-friendly design would be sufficient.
In March, Olympic venues and infrastructure chief Yann Krysinski boasted that the buildings were designed to be comfortable without air conditioning, thanks to their orientation and insulation. However, it appears that this design has failed to deliver, with athletes struggling to cope with the heat.
The situation has become so dire that some athletes have opted to move to nearby hotels, while others have resorted to sleeping outdoors. The lack of protein in the village’s vegan diet has also been a major issue, prompting organizers to order over 4,000 pounds of meat and eggs to supplement the athletes’ meals.
