The “dismal living conditions” at the Tokyo Olympics athletes’ village have taken a toll on some high-profile competitors, with Italian swimming champion Thomas Ceccon resorting to napping outdoors to get some rest.
Ceccon, the gold medalist in the 100m backstroke event, was photographed by Saudi rower Husein Alireza sleeping on a towel next to a park bench within the village grounds, The Telegraph reported.
This comes after Ceccon repeatedly complained about the lack of air conditioning, poor food quality, and general “heat and noise” making it difficult for him to sleep both day and night.
“There is no air conditioning in the village, it’s hot, the food is bad. Many athletes move for this reason: it’s not an alibi or excuse, it’s the reality of what perhaps not everyone knows,” Ceccon had said earlier.
The 23-year-old Olympic champion added that he had been “too tired” to perform his best, as “it’s hard to sleep both at night and in the afternoon.” Ceccon’s federation has declined to comment on why he resorted to napping outdoors.
It remains unclear whether the photo was taken before or after Ceccon and his Italian teammates failed to reach the final of the 4x100m men’s medley relay event.
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American tennis star Coco Gauff revealed that a fellow female member of the US tennis team had quit the village altogether after finding the quarters “too cramped.” French swimmer Assia Touati also complained about the lack of air conditioning, saying: “We had no AC in the bedroom but they installed it anyway because it was getting too hot.”
The issues extend beyond just accommodations, as British athletes have reported shortages and insufficient quality of food provided in the village. In response, Team GB has set up a private performance lodge just 15 minutes away, stocked with supplies from Aldi supermarket and staffed by dedicated chefs and a sports nutritionist.
