The truth about the 'anti-sex beds' designed by Japanese company for athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Everything you need to know about the so called 'anti-sex beds' designed for athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Athletes hoping for some extracurricular activities during the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris might have been worried by recent news, but it turns out their concerns are unfounded.

 Organizers have announced they are using the same modular beds from the 2020 Tokyo Games, initially rumored to be "anti-sex." 

However, The Post has revealed that these beds, manufactured by Japanese company Airweave, are indeed robust enough for any nocturnal activities athletes might pursue.

The twin-size mattresses, made of polyethylene and set up on cardboard frames, initially sparked speculation that they were designed to deter intimacy. 

Brett Thornton, Chief Operating Officer of Airweave US, assured The Post that the frames are actually sturdier than typical wooden ones. “The cardboard frames are even designed far sturdier than typical wooden bed frames,” Thornton said, adding that athletes can comfortably use them night after night.

Addressing concerns directly, Airweave CEO Motokuni Takaoka told the Japan Times, “Sex is sex, whether it’s on our mattress or somebody else’s. We just wanted to create a mattress that is stronger than normal mattress. We’re only focused on sleep; we’re not concerned with anything else that happens on the bed.”

Airweave has been collaborating with Olympic athletes since the 2008 Beijing Games, officially partnering for the Tokyo Games in 2020. 

During the Tokyo Olympics, an "intimacy ban" due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to the beds being dubbed "anti-sex." This was due to their twin size and polyethylene construction, but their primary design goal was comfort and support for athletes.

The mattresses, though not visually impressive, are reported to provide excellent sleep quality. Each is made up of three separate blocks with varying firmness levels (firm, moderate, and soft), customizable to different body types.

 Upon arrival at the Olympic Village, athletes will use an AI-powered app to tailor their mattresses to their needs. For example, swimmers, who typically have lean builds, will likely receive softer mattresses, while rugby players may need a firmer setup.

Airweave claims that their polyethylene material promotes deeper sleep by improving weight distribution, allowing effortless turning, and ensuring optimal spinal alignment.

 Studies have shown that this material can result in sleep that is 308% longer than on a regular memory foam mattress. American fencer Katharine Holmes praised the comfort of these mattresses during the Tokyo Games, noting, “I don’t wake up in the middle of the night in screaming agony.”

Additionally, the mattress blocks are washable and hypoallergenic, alleviating concerns about bedbugs, a significant issue in Paris last summer. 

The beds are also 100% recyclable, aligning with the sustainability goals of the Paris 2024 organizers. “I hope that Paris 2024’s efforts to reduce its impact will show that it is possible to do things differently,” Georgina Grenon, director of environmental excellence for the organizing committee, recently told AFP.

Despite the beds’ sturdiness, history shows that athletes don’t need beds for their amorous escapades. Stories of athletes’ sexual exploits at the Olympics are legendary, with ESPN reporting a balcony incident in Athens 2004 and the Mirror recounting an orgy in a hot tub. “I’ve seen people having sex right out in the open. 

On the grass, between buildings, people are getting down and dirty,” a two-time gold medalist told the publication.

In preparation for the anticipated high spirits, organizers have ordered 300,000 condoms to be distributed in the Olympic Village alongside the Airweave beds, ensuring that athletes can enjoy safe and comfortable accommodations throughout the Games.