Athletes from around the world are flocking to Italy ahead of the Opening Ceremonies for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo and have begun moving into their new accommodations.
But the question on the top of some minds is what the sleeping situation looks like considering previous years’ makeshift beds.
The Olympic Village has long held a reputation for debaucherous behavior among the athletes. In recent years, steps were taken to either cut costs or dissuade those competing from any ‘extra-curricular activities’.
Back in the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, athletes slept on beds made of strong cardboard which were designed to discourage competitors from sleeping with each other at the height of the Covid pandemic.
After the Winter Olympics in Beijing returned to normal frames, the cardboard beds returned in 2024 as a part of the Paris Olympics’ desire to be environmentally friendly.
But now, thanks to insight from one Team GB member, it seems things have gone back to normal.
Team GB star Phebe Bekker gave a behind the scenes look into the Olympic Village
She also was able to confirm that the beds in Milan and Cortina are not made out of cardboard
Bekker and partner James Hernandez will hope to win GB’s first ice dance medal since 1994
Phebe Bekker, an ice dancer hailing from Ashtead in Surrey, shared a video to her TikTok account confirming that the beds are made of stronger stuff.
She recorded herself knocking on the frame, which produced a hollow sound. Bekker also showed that the bed did, in fact, have a mattress.
‘Heard it here first: there are no cardboard beds. Well, as far as I know,’ said Bekker.
This way, Bekker can get some necessary and restorative sleep ahead of the start of the ice dancing competition – which is set to be among the first events of the Olympics.
Bekker and skating partner James Hernandez will look to win Great Britain’s first medal in figure skating since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean took home Bronze in ice dance at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.
