Art, obsession, and identity
Foods can—and have been—shipped to France. Team USA for example shipped peanut butter, jerky, pretzels, and popcorn, to name a few. Team China even brought their own chef!
They will however have to go through airport-type security every time they re-enter it. This includes bag scanners, metal detectors, and everything in between.
This also applies to therapy dogs. However, the decision has more to do with the French government's certification of such animals, rather than the Olympic regulations themselves.
Food is fuel, and athletes have plenty of options at the Village. In the dining hall they can find “everything from world food, Asian food, Latin American food, halal, vegetarian section... There's also a quick grab and go," says Smith.
What better way to boost team spirit than to hang a few flags and decorate your halls with your national colors, right?
Foods such as French fries, foie gras, and avocados, are not served due to a number of reasons, including ethical and nutritional.
But decor goes beyond teams’ identities. This tradition has become a competition in itself!
Sources: (Olympics.com) (People) (Ranker) (Self) (Sky)
See also: Olympic villages through the years
There are 600 communal bikes available for athletes to use.
From massages to mental health support, gyms, a salon, and leisure areas, athletes have numerous resources available to them.
While this is one of the world’s biggest competitions, it’s also a unique opportunity to meet and hang out with people from other countries.
Though there's actually a sports bar in the Olympic Village, athletes won’t find any booze for sale there.
Team USA goes as far as not allowing alcohol “pre-competition, during competition or once competition has finished." That is, until the Olympics officially comes to an end.
A good night’s sleep is very important for athletic performance. Team USA for instance, sets quiet hours in their residence halls between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am.
In addition to cardboard beds, teams that wish to have more control over room temperature must bring their own AC. Indeed, quite a few teams have opted to do this.
The cardboard beds in the Olympic Village are pretty hard. The good news is that the stiff mattresses can be customized to suit individual preferences.
Athletes who are under 18 will not room with adults. For exceptions to occur "there has to be a parent permission involved, team leader permission involved, NGB permission involved," explains Smith.
“It is very helpful for both parents and infants to be able to spend time together, especially at such an important moment in an athlete’s sporting life,” said IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Emma Terho, who competed at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games as a mother.
It’s not for the athletes to decide who rooms with whom. This is a decision taken by each sports team.
There is however an exception to this rule: nursing mothers. Nursing athletes are allowed to bring their children into the Olympic Village Nursery.
This will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the team and the accommodation allocated.
Athletes can’t have family or friends visiting them in the Olympic Village. According to Team USA's Olympic Village Director Daniel Smith, the goal “is to make it as distraction-free as possible."
Athletes can’t share apartments with team members from other countries.
But they can only do so at specific times and are not allowed to live with the athletes.
One example is the USA Men's basketball team, who chose not to stay at the Olympic Village. Needless to say, they can afford luxury accommodation!
Athletes are not required to stay at the Village. This means they can find alternative accommodation but they'll have to pay for it.
Athletes had to wait until July 18 to move into their country’s residences. This is because the Olympic Village didn’t officially open its doors until that date.
There are also a number of electric vehicles available as means of transportation inside the Village.
For a number of weeks during the Games, over 14,000 athletes make the Olympic Village their home. And while not every member of every single team stays there, the vast majority of them do so. Traditionally, the Olympic Village has provided accommodation and a number of resources to athletes and Olympic teams from around the world. And just like the Games, the Village also has its rules, some of which you might not know about.
In this gallery, you'll discover the surprising rules of the Olympic Village. Curious? Click on!
What athletes can (and can't) do in the Olympic Village
Surprising rules athletes and their teams must follow
LIFESTYLE Paris 2024
For a number of weeks during the Games, over 14,000 athletes make the Olympic Village their home. And while not every member of every single team stays there, the vast majority of them do so. Traditionally, the Olympic Village has provided accommodation and a number of resources to athletes and Olympic teams from around the world. And just like the Games, the Village also has its rules, some of which you might not know about.
In this gallery, you'll discover the surprising rules of the Olympic Village. Curious? Click on!