‘It’s sturdy’, assure Tokyo Olympic organisers after ‘anti-sex’ bed claims spark a row

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, July 19

Reports of ‘Anti-sex’ beds at Tokyo Olympic Village have triggered a row with players making claims and counter claims on micro-blogging sites even as the organizers re-assuring that the beds are `sturdy’.

The controversy broke out after a tweet by US distance runner Paul Chelimo who said the cardboard beds were "aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes" to promote social distancing in view of Covid-19 guidelines. He even tweeted the photographs on his Twitter account.

Also read: ‘Anti-sex’ beds at Tokyo Olympics to prevent athletes from getting intimate with one another

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😂 pic.twitter.com/J45wlxgtSo

— Paul Chelimo🇺🇸🥈🥉 (@Paulchelimo) July 17, 2021

Hours later, Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan came up with a `rebuttal’. He filmed himself jumping repeatedly on a bed to prove the point that the beds were `safe’. "The beds are meant to be anti-sex. They're made out of cardboard, yes, but apparently they're meant to break with sudden movements. It's fake -- fake news!" McClenaghan said in the video posted on Twitter.

“Anti-sex” beds at the Olympics pic.twitter.com/2jnFm6mKcB

— Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) July 18, 2021

The official Olympics Twitter account thanked McLenaghan for "debunking the myth", adding "the sustainable beds are sturdy!" . ``Thanks for debunking the myth. You heard it first from @TeamIreland gymnast @McClenaghanRhys - the sustainable cardboard beds are sturdy!’’ the organisers tweeted.

Thousands of athletes are staying at the Olympic Village during the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games, which start on Friday.