Is Paris not a city of love anymore? Well, with the latest frenzy on the internet, it seems to be the case. Athletes participating in the Paris Olympics this year are going to be sleeping on cardboard beds. Yes, beds are made out of recycled cardboard material.

Forget a restful night, Team USA and others are going to be spending their multi-week stay on these beds, which are rather sturdy as per many organizers. Now, as much as it is a shocker to you, it is to internet personality, Joe Popliano too. He took to X to share the images of the beds, which are neither kind size nor queen size. They’re just big enough to accommodate a single person on top.

Now, this isn’t the first time these beds are brought to the forefront. Even though they’re rumored to be “anti-s*x” beds (do the math!), they are actually a wonderful creation done when the Olympics were going to be hosted in Tokyo. At the time, these beds were brought in as a solution to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but now it is just an ambitious solution “to ensure minimal environmental impact and a second life for all equipment” a source told AFP.

Once the Olympics are over, the cardboard will be recycled once again and the sheets and pillows will be donated. But, all of this effort, all of this initiative on saving the planet, has rather had an adverse impact on social media. As you’ve already read, people have been calling it an “anti-s*x” bed. And it’s not the only concern people have with these beds. There’ve been athletes too, voicing out their opinions.

“I almost feel like it’s become sort of this, like, insider Olympian joke where you talk about all the con**ms”, said marathoner Des Linden, who competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. “Maybe it’s happening. I’m sure it probably is; I never came across it.”

Unfortunately, it isn’t something that NBA fans, especially those rooting for the Team USA roster, see their players occupying. Despite their useful purpose, the beds are not entirely comfortable, and may not be what the tall basketball players need to gain a good night’s sleep before a big day, right?

Fans React to the Olympics ‘Anti-S**’ beds

No sooner had the news about the return of the ‘Anti-S**’ beds started making waves when people descended onto social media to share their reactions.

One of them raised the important question of how fans can expect a 6 foot 9 player like LeBron James to occupy a single bed like this. Having not been in the Olympics since 2012, this new change will certainly come as a shock to the player.

The last time that LeBron James was a part of an Olympic roster, in 2012, the athletes’ apartments were furnished with extendable beds and blackout curtains. The soft furnishings that were used by over 17,000 Olympic and 6,000 Paralympic athletes wanted to be built through a ‘great sense of responsibility’ by Jonathan Edwards, a member of the 2012 Games’ Athletic committee. Now, however, that approach and comfortability seem to have been left behind.

The discussion on how the beds would be uncomfortable for LeBron seemed to continue amongst others as well. One individual made use of a ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ meme to display just how the 39-year-old’s state of mind will be before a big game.

The Los Angeles Lakers star is someone who has often given priority to a proper sleep cycle. During an interview on ‘The Tim Ferris Show’ back in November 2018, LeBron highlighted how 8 to 9 hours of sleep is “the best way for your body to physically and emotionally be able to recover and get back to 100 percent as soon as possible.” In fact, on occasion, the NBA star has even gone up to taking 10 hours of sleep. With the way the Olympic beds are, however, LeBron may have to struggle a bit.

One social media user had to question whether what they saw from Joe Pompliano was real. This caused him to give out a somewhat sarcastic statement that such a small bed with no air-conditioning is all that the tall basketball players need during this important tournament.

Earlier reports had the 2024 Paris Summer Games being promoted as the “greenest in Olympic history.” However, after significant backlash from delegations, the organizers permitted the different countries to order their portable air-con units at their own expense, which will be installed for the duration of the Games. As of last week, over 2,500 units have been ordered. Team USA will reportedly be bringing along their units since it is “a very high priority.”

One NBA fan seemed to sympathize heavily with the plight that the basketball players are about to face. This caused him to outright state that if Lebron spends one night on the beds, then he will opt to (not literally) swim to Paris. If LeBron James is willing to give his best and lead Team USA whilst having rested on a cardboard bed, then he certainly deserves the love and attention that comes his way from fans.

Overall, the reactions were heavily sympathetic towards the Lakers star and his teammates. With the men’s basketball roster looking to secure the gold medal for the fifth consecutive time, proper rest is the need of the hour.

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about the Lakers legend’s infamous feud with the late Kobe Bryant.