Here’s why the Olympics gave athletes cardboard beds

A tweet claimed that the Olympics in Tokyo are using anti-sex beds in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the games. 

"This is the craziest story," said a July 17 tweet. "In order to prevent Olympians from having sex, and thus risk spreading the Covid virus, beds at the Tokyo Olympic Village are made from cardboard so they collapse if more than one person gets on them!"

The tweet included an image of two neatly made single beds, each covered in a blue and white bedspread that reads "Tokyo 2020." The legs and frame of the bed are made of cardboard  

The post, which was also shared on Facebook, was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its news feed. (Read more about PolitiFact’s partnership with Facebook.)

The beds were not created to prevent the spread of the virus. They were made by Airweave, a Japanese company. In 2019, long before COVID-19 was even a word, the company announced its plan to supply 18,000 beds for the Olympics and 8,000 beds for the Paralympics. 

The beds are meant to be moveable and recyclable. The bed frames are made out of high-resistance cardboard and a customizable mattress. The beds’ lightness helps athletes rearrange their rooms easier. And once the games are over, the beds and mattresses will be recycled into other paper and plastic products. 

Featured Fact-check

Viral image

stated on March 24, 2024 in a Instagram post

Video shows Russian President Vladimir Putin saying Biblical figures were “all Black.”

Even though the beds look breakable, they can withstand a lot of physical activity. "Fake news!" said Rhys McClenaghan, an Olympic gymnast from Ireland, in response to the fast-moving social media claim. In his video tweet, he is seen forcefully jumping up and down his cardboard bed — without it breaking.

"Cardboard beds are actually stronger than the one made of wood or steel," Airweave told the New York Times. The beds are built to hold up to 200 to 440 pounds. 

As far as social distancing goes, the International Olympic Committee has asked athletes to minimize physical interaction, keep two meters of distance from other athletes, and practice good hygiene. Athletes are expected to be tested for COVID-19 before, during and after the games.

This year, the Olypmics distributed 160,000 condoms; officials said that the condoms were used for educational purposes to promote safe sex. "Our intent and goal is not for athletes to use the condoms at the Olympic Village, but to help with awareness by taking them back to their own countries." said the Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee in a statement. 

The post stated that the beds used in the Olympics are meant to prevent sex between athletes and minimize the spread COVID-19; they are not. 

The bed plans were put into motion before the pandemic because they can be recycled.

We rate this claim Pants on Fire!