Admit the rising temperature in Paris, Altheles are facing several issues regarding their accommodation. Well, Team USA basketball players can rest well. As the Team enjoys a lavish perk that sets them different players facing challenges.

From the time Atheles entered the Olympic Village, several issues have come forward. From cardboard beds, lack of air-conditioning, and food to over-packed buses to the venue. Because of these issues, several Atheles have left the Olympic Village and are staying in hotels at their expense.

Recently Team USA’s female flag bearer Coco Gauff said, “I’m the only one really (left at the village),” Gauff further added “Like, at first I was going to move, and then when I kept meeting all these amazing athletes staying in the village, and then Rafa (Nadal) is staying in the village. So I was like, if he can do it, I can do it. But I understand why my teammates left.”

Now Team USA’s LeBron James and basketball players, both Men and Women’s Team, are receiving a benefit of $15 million worth of luxurious accommodations, a stark contrast to the difficulties experienced by many other competitors, including a severe heat wave and a strict alcohol ban.

This luxury is not just for the players but also for the support team and their families. The $15 million expenditure includes high-end, private lodging that aims to offer the players a more controlled and secluded environment. This move highlights a growing trend among elite athletes to seek premium living arrangements to optimize performance and minimize distractions.

The Olympic Village, known for its vibrant and communal atmosphere, has traditionally been the central hub for athletes from around the world. But it’s not the first time that Team USA basketball players are staying outside the Village. They have been doing this since their first Olympics entry in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

The Luxurious Stay

Ever since the NBA allowed their players to participate in the Olympics, they have been making their arrangements since 1992 in Barcelona. Their governing body has always treated their athletes with the most luxurious arrangements.

In the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, they went a bit more exotic as they board docked cruise ships for their players. Craig Miller, a spokesman for USA Basketball, said in 2016 “We don’t stay in the village because we don’t feel it’s the best way to prepare for competition,” Miller further said, “The players have a long professional season and they want to spend as much time as possible with family and friends.”

Although they have not revealed their hotel name for the Paris Olympics in 2024, it is said that they have booked around 700 rooms. The $15 million spent on alternative accommodations reflects broader trends in the sports world, where high-profile athletes increasingly seek personalized arrangements to enhance their preparation and performance.

Team USA’s choice to forgo the Olympic Village in favor of private, high-end accommodations underscores a shift towards personalized athlete care and comfort. While the $15 million investment has sparked debate, it reflects the evolving priorities of elite athletes and their focus on optimizing performance in a highly competitive environment.

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