The “dismal living conditions” at the Tokyo Olympics athletes’ village have reportedly affected several high-profile competitors, including Italian swimming champion Thomas Ceccon.
The gold medalist in the 100m backstroke was recently photographed by Saudi rower Husein Alireza napping on a towel beside a park bench within the village grounds, according to The Telegraph.
Ceccon has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the village’s amenities, citing a lack of air conditioning, subpar food, and pervasive “heat and noise” as major issues disrupting his rest.
“There is no air conditioning in the village, it’s hot, the food is bad. Many athletes are struggling because of this. It’s not an excuse; it’s the reality of what perhaps not everyone knows,” Ceccon had expressed earlier.
The 23-year-old champion reported being “too tired” to perform at his best due to the difficulty of sleeping both at night and during the day. The reason for Ceccon’s decision to nap outdoors has not been officially addressed by his federation.
It remains unclear if the photo was taken before or after Ceccon and his Italian teammates failed to advance to the final of the 4x100m men’s medley relay event.
The problems with accommodations extend beyond Ceccon’s experience. American tennis star Coco Gauff revealed that a member of the US tennis team left the village due to the cramped quarters.
French swimmer Assia Touati also complained about the heat, stating: “We had no AC in the bedroom, but they installed it later because it was getting too hot.”
British athletes have reported similar issues, particularly with food shortages and quality. In response, Team GB has established a private performance lodge 15 minutes away, equipped with supplies from Aldi and staffed by chefs and a sports nutritionist.
