On July 24 local time, the reporter from Global Times visited the Paris Olympic Village, which is comfortable and equipped with facilities such as restaurants, supermarkets, and souvenir shops, providing athletes with a relaxing space to unwind between competitions. Photo: Li Hao/GT

An official from China’s delegation for the Paris Olympic Games clarified rumors about the Chinese team bringing self-installed air conditioning and their own mattresses at an online press conference held Wednesday.

Zhang Xin, the secretary-general of the Chinese Olympic delegation, said that the Olympic Village can provide mobile air conditioning rental services. The delegation will consider renting based on the weather conditions. It is not true that the team had their own air conditioning installed, and it is also not true that the delegation brought their own mattresses, Zhang said, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The Chinese delegation and nearly 20 teams have already settled in the Olympic Village. Zhang said that at every Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee and the event organizing committee provide excellent services for athletes from around the world. 

“Compared to previous Olympic Games, the accommodation and dining conditions, living environment, training, competition, venues, and transportation services in the Paris Olympic Village all have their own characteristics, but the basic standards remain consistent,” Zhang said.

Rumors about Chinese athletes in the Olympic Village installing their own air conditioning units and bringing their own mattresses are false. Each delegation is assigned accommodation with different cooling systems, and the Olympic Village provides rental services for portable air conditioners.

“It is not true that we brought over 300 air conditioners with us. The Olympic Village can provide portable air conditioning rental services, and the delegation will assess the weather conditions and the need for air conditioning,” said Zhang. If necessary, the delegation may consider renting portable air conditioners for specific teams, according to Zhang.

Regarding the rumors of bringing their own mattresses, Zhang said that there are a few athletes or staff members who may have their own sleeping habits, or they may be staying in official hotels outside the village. In order to better serve the athletes, they sometimes prefer to sleep on the floor in the village, so will prepare mattresses. 

“Interpreting one mattress as the entire delegation bringing their own mattresses, which is also inaccurate,” Zhang noted.

Chinese athletes “are not delicate flowers in a greenhouse, they can actively overcome various challenges and make timely adjustments. Currently, each team is focusing on pre-match training and preparing for the competition seriously,” Zhang said. 

Global Times