Some Players Express Complaints About Inadequate Accommodation Facilities
Excessively Low Ceilings, Remote Controls Labeled Only in Japanese
Some Japanese Athletes Use Separate Facilities Instead of Athlete Village
Athletes arriving at the Tokyo Olympic Village expressed dissatisfaction with the accommodations. Photo shows Artem Volvich of the Russian men's volleyball team / Photo by Instagram Capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the Tokyo Olympics approach, athletes arriving from around the world are voicing complaints about the athlete village accommodations. There are concerns that uncomfortable beds and insufficient amenities are causing inconvenience in the athletes' daily lives. Amid this, controversy is growing as it has been confirmed that some members of the Japanese delegation are staying in separate facilities rather than the athlete village.
According to Japanese local media such as 'Kyodo News,' some athletes arriving at the athlete village accommodations have expressed dissatisfaction with the beds and amenities.
Artem Volvich, a member of the Russian men's volleyball team, posted a photo on the social networking service Instagram on the 20th (local time) showing himself slightly bending his neck in front of the athlete village bathroom. He indirectly criticized the low bathroom ceiling, saying he could not fully stretch his body. Volvich's height is 213 cm.
Complaints about the beds also surfaced. The athlete village accommodations are furnished with beds made from recyclable cardboard, which athletes criticized as "cardboard beds," "beds designed to prevent sexual activity," and "seem likely to collapse."
In response, the Olympic organizing committee quickly clarified that the furniture was made from recyclable cardboard to promote sustainability, and the beds are very sturdy, capable of supporting up to 200 kg.
Other complaints included a lack of refrigerators and TVs in rooms housing 4 to 5 athletes, and air conditioner remote controls labeled only in Japanese, making it difficult for foreign athletes to operate them.
The Olympic athlete village, built in Harumi, Tokyo, consists of 21 buildings and 3,600 rooms. During the event, up to approximately 18,000 people will stay there. Previously, the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee praised the village as "the best Olympic accommodation ever," but in reality, these remarks seem hollow as criticisms about discomfort continue.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that some Japanese athletes are using separate accommodations instead of the athlete village, which is expected to cause a stir.
According to Kyodo News on the 17th, some members of the Japanese delegation are using facilities such as the Ajinomoto National Training Center in Kita Ward, Tokyo, as their accommodations.
The strategy aims to minimize travel burdens and maximize the home advantage by using familiar training facilities, but given the complaints from foreign athletes, it is likely to be controversial that only the home athletes are staying in separate facilities.
Netizens who learned of this news reacted with disbelief. Despite the Olympics gathering athletes with diverse physical conditions from around the world, there are criticisms that the organizers were inadequately prepared.
Netizens poured out criticism such as, "It clearly doesn't seem like a first-class accommodation," "I suspect it was hastily arranged," "Are they trying to lower scores by making athletes uncomfortable?" and "If only the home team stays in different accommodations under these circumstances, it will be hard to hear anything positive."
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