Exactly what will happen to Olympic cardboard beds after games have finished

With the 2024 Paris Games set to come to an end this Sunday (11 August), I'm sure the question many people around the globe are asking is what on earth will happen to all the cardboard beds?

Now, there are over 10,700 athletes who have travelled from across the world to the City of Love in order to battle it out for gold, but that also means there's thousands upon thousands of beds which will be no longer needed in the Olympic Village once the weekend's over.

It was decided that the beds, dubbed 'anti-sex beds' were made out of cardboard because of their sustainability and sturdiness.

The 'anti-sex' bed in question. (VCG / Contributor / Getty Images)

This year's Paris organisers issued an important to statement ahead of the action, which explained: "For Paris 2024 the choice of these beds for the Olympic and Paralympic Village is primarily linked to a wider ambition to ensure minimal environmental impact and a second life for all equipment."

A video posted by the Olympics' official YouTube channel echoed this, adding that the beds - which were all made in the land of baguettes and wine - will be recycled.

"These sustainable beds are 100% made in France and will be fully recycled in France after the Games," the video assured.

The bed 'frames' in question are made from cardboard and the mattresses of polyethylene mattresses.

While clearly great for the planet, it seems like the Olympic beds weren't so good for the athletes' backs after a major league sport sleep consultant, Dr Chris Winter, lifted the lid on the numerous ailments that Olympians could sustain.

Speaking to Fox News, the US neurologist and sleep adviser slammed the beds initially saying: "I was not part of the French Olympic planning, but given the overall theme of the games as being 'more responsible, more inclusive and more equal', I think the cardboard bed checks those boxes."

The issue Dr Winter raises, however, is that sleep discomfort could prove detrimental for some sporting individuals.

"For an Olympic swimmer, weightlifter or gymnast to awaken with a tweak or catch in their back could be disastrous," he said.

"Lilly King missed a breaststroke medal by 1/100th of a second," Winter noted. "Could a cardboard bed be to blame? Without a doubt."

Talking of Olympic beds, you may be surprised to know that the Olympic Village were supplied with 200,000 male condoms, 20,000 female condoms and 10,000 oral dams with the official Olympics website highlighting: "Safe sex is paramount in a notoriously febrile environment, akin to students at college, but sweatier."

Indeed.

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