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The truth about the cardboard beds at the Tokyo Olympics

Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan dispelled the myth that the beds are built to be "anti-sex"

The internet was ablaze over the weekend after American distance runner Paul Chelimo tweeted about the supposed cardboard beds at the Tokyo Olympic Village. According to Chelimo’s tweet, the beds were constructed to prevent athletes from having sex during the Games, a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among athletes. As it turns out, this was nothing more than a rumour, and Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan took to Twitter to set the record straight. How? By jumping on the bed.

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According to Reuters, the beds are made of recyclable cardboard and mattresses made of polyethylene materials that would be reused to make plastic products after the Games. Airweave, the manufacturer of the beds, claims each one can hold around 200 kilograms (440 pounds). The rumour that the beds are designed to collapse under sudden movements is also false, as was demonstrated by McClenaghan.

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The official Olympic Twitter account thanked the gymnast for clearing up the matter, and added that the beds are, in fact, very sturdy. Reportedly, Olympic Officials are still handing out about 150,000 condoms to athletes, but are asking them to respect social distancing rules and to take the condoms home with them instead.

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