Kimchi, Sabalmyeon, and Cooling Fans Instead of Air Conditioners... Korean Athletes' Accommodation?[Paris Olympics]

262 Athletes and Coaches in Paris
89 Rooms on Floors 3-5 of Athlete Village Building B
Korean Special Menu 'Kimchi' Provided
Babysitting Available with Meditation and Yoga Options

What does the accommodation for the Korean delegation participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics look like? The athlete village, spanning a total area of 52 hectares and equivalent to the size of 70 soccer fields, is located in the northern outskirts of Paris, France, in Saint-Denis, Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, and L'?le-Saint-Denis. It is similar in scale to the previous Olympics.

Korea has dispatched a total delegation of 262 members, including 144 athletes and 118 coaches across 22 sports. The Korean delegation will stay in rooms on the 3rd to 5th floors of Building B in the athlete village. The organizing committee did not install air conditioning in any of the accommodations this year. In response, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee has prepared room coolers and arranged 26 portable air conditioners. Cooling jackets using eco-friendly special refrigerants and mosquito repellents were also provided. Blankets were prepared in case the temperature drops.

Four Michelin-starred chefs have been assigned to the athlete village dining hall. The dining hall has six zones with a total of 3,500 seats, offering a variety of dishes. Of the 50 menu items served daily, half are 100% vegetarian dishes. Due to technical difficulties in using fryers, French fries were removed from the menu. The organizing committee allowed each national delegation to request specific foods, and the Korean delegation reportedly requested 'kimchi.'

2024 Paris Olympic Village Korean National Team Accommodation View
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The South Korean athletes' lounge at the 2024 Paris Olympic Village is being opened to the press.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The lounges on the 3rd to 5th floors of the Korean athlete village are stocked with Korean foods such as instant noodles, ready-to-eat rice, kimchi, and canned tuna. On the 1st floor, there is a medical clinic staffed by Korean medical personnel, and on the 4th floor terrace lounge, athletes can relax while overlooking the Seine River. The 4th-floor lounge is considered a 'photo zone' among the athletes. A caf? and a recreational facility called the 'Village Club' have opened, and large bean bags and sunbeds are set up throughout the exterior of the athlete village.

The 'cardboard beds' used in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 have been reinforced this year. The cardboard has been strengthened to withstand up to 250 kg of weight, up from the previous 200 kg capacity. The mattress is custom-made in three sections: head and shoulders, waist, and legs. Based on full-body scans and photographs taken in advance, an artificial intelligence (AI) program assigns the appropriate mattress considering the athlete's height, weight, and sport. The mattress can be adjusted up to 220 cm in length to fit the athlete's height. The organizing committee plans to donate the beds to charity organizations after the games.

The athlete village includes a Family Zone (daycare) and a Mind Zone. The Family Zone walls are decorated with images of the Eiffel Tower and painted yellow, and baby products and toys are provided. 'Mom' athletes can leave their children here from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily to train. Mothers and children can also use this facility together. The Mind Zone is located above the weight training area. It offers mental and physical relaxation programs using virtual reality (VR) equipment, as well as meditation, yoga, and aromatherapy. Following psychological issues and slumps experienced by gymnasts like Simone Biles, there has been a call in the sports community for 'emotional support' for athletes, which the organizing committee has reflected in this facility.

The lights of the Eiffel Tower shine behind the Taegeukgi and various national flags at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The biggest feature of this year's athlete village is the 'carbon emission limit.' The organizing committee aims to reduce carbon emissions and hold an eco-friendly event by providing a mainly vegetarian diet that avoids meat, not installing air conditioning, and using cardboard beds. Considering that the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics emitted 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas mixtures, the plan is to limit emissions to less than half, at 1.75 million tons. However, some have pointed out that the numerous airplanes flying to Paris, the Olympic host city, already emit a significant amount of carbon dioxide.