An Olympic champion has slammed the conditions of the athletes' village and claimed that many competitors have left.
As per traditions, everyone taking part in the Olympic Games are housed in what is known as the athletes’ village.
The set-up has everything an athlete would need, such as gyms, games room and beauty salons.
However, one champion has spoken about the conditions of the village and even claimed that many competitors have left.
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100-meter backstroke gold medalist Thomas Ceccon of Italy said to RAI, as per Swim Swam: “In the Village there is no air conditioning, it’s hot, the food is bad. Many athletes move because of this … it is not an alibi it is the pure chronicle of what perhaps not everyone knows.
“I emphasize that this is not meant to be an excuse or an alibi, we are all experiencing the same situations and are in the same conditions. It is one thing many people probably do not know and it is right to tell the story.”
He added: “Maybe I did not go into the water with the same conviction that I had in the 100m, and that was my mistake, it will serve me well in the future. I’m disappointed that I didn’t make a finals time, but I was tired too.
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I gave up in the semi-final … a little tired you have a hard time sleeping both at night and in the afternoon, between noise and heat.
“Yes it’s hot for me too, in the Village there is no air conditioning, we don’t eat well and there are problems with the food. Many athletes move for these reasons.”
SPORTbible has contacted the IOC and the Paris Olympics for comment.
Fellow swimmer Ariarne Titmus of Australia was also critical of the athletes’ village.
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She said: “It probably wasn't the time I thought I was capable of, but living in the Olympic village makes it hard to perform.
“It's definitely not made for high performance, so it's about who can really keep it together in the mind.”
Marcus Chan