팬데믹 상황이 만들어낸 도쿄올림픽 루머 (SCMP)

*주요내용

Athletes’ village are making the rounds online with many wondering if their seemingly flimsy cardboard frames are designed to discourage amorous activity among some of the world’s fittest human beings. There appears to be a more practical reason the beds were made of cardboard: they are part of the Games’ sustainability plan. The bed frames are made from recyclable cardboard, with mattresses formed of polythene which will be recycled into plastic products after the Olympics.“They are stronger than wooden beds,” Takashi Kitajima, the general manager of the athletes’ village said, The village, which can house 18,000 athletes and team members, has taken a series of antivirus measures to ensure the Games will be safe. For example, athletes will be tested daily and required to wear masks except during competition, eating and sleeping

 

올림픽을 앞둔 선수촌에서는 온라인 상의 설전이 펼쳐지고 있다. 즉슨 약한 카드보드 프레임의 침대가 가장 이에 적합한 선수들의 사랑의 행위의 의욕을 상실시키기 위해 설계되었다는 것이다. (대회측 설명은) 사실 더 실용적인 이유에서 침대가 제작되었으며, (환경 소재의) 지속가능화 계획의 일환이라는 것이다. 침대의 프레임은 카드보드이며, 매트리스는 폴리에칠렌으로 올림픽경기 후에 재사용될 것이다. 또한 선수촌의 관리책임자는 나무침대보다 오히려 튼튼하다고 설명하고 있다. 한편, 18,000명의 선수단을 수용할 수 있는 선수촌은 팬데믹 상황에 잘 대처하기 위한 방침들을 가지고 임하고 있다. 예를 들어 선수들은 매일 바이러스 테스트를 매일 하게 되며, 경기, 식사 그리고 수면 시간을 제외하고는 항상 마스크를 착용하게 되어있다. 

 

*단어

flimsy cardboard frames 약한 카드보드 프레임. 

fittest human beings 적합한 인간, 적자(적자생존에서)

sustainablility 지속가능성

 

*짧은논평

준전시상황에서 올림픽을 계최하게 된 것은 인류 전체의 또 하나의 도전이며 실험인 셈이다. 올림픽이 계최 이후로 중되었던 것은 모두 1,2차 대전으로 인한 계최가 불가능한 상황에서 무산된 것이었다. 그 때의 경우 보다는 다소 낫다고 하겠으나, 그와는 다른 또 다른 어려움이 선수와 선수단, 조직운영단에 주어졌다. 이런 전대 미문의 상황 속에서 세계 최대의 스포츠 행사를 치루다 보니 이런 저런 말이 많고 작은 것들도 크게 보여지는 이유로 각종 루머가 양산되기 십상이다. 오늘은 올림픽 개막식이 일주일도 채 남지 않은 시점이다. 하지만 아직도 일본에서는 코로나 팬데믹 상황에서 올림픽을 강행한 일본정부와 IOC 올림픽위원회에 대한 성토가 이어지고 있으며, 몇몇 나라 선수들은 불참을 선언하였고, 이웃국가 한국에서는 근래의 양국간의 이슈가 된 정치적인 이유로 불참을 요구하는 목소리가 이어지고 있다. 그럼도 불가하고 인류의 화합이라는 큰 기치를 건 올림픽은, 여러 난관들이 산재한 이 특별한 올림픽은 기왕 지금 이 시간까지 개막식을 위해 세계인이 힘겹게 달려왔다면, 성공적인 개최에 박수를 보내고 그 성공적인 패막을 마음으로 바라야 할 것이다. 이 것은 단순한 한 나라, 그 국민들 만의 행사가 아니기 때문이다. 인류의 보편적인 가치, 평화와 화합을 염원하는 장이기 때문이다. 전쟁과 폭력의 총성과 억압이 하루도 멈추지 않는 이 세상에 그나마 선한 가치를 추구하는 무언가라도 있다는 것을 좋게 바라 보지 않을 이유가 없는 것이다.

 

*본문

Athletes’ village are making the rounds online with many wondering if their seemingly flimsy cardboard frames are designed to discourage amorous activity among some of the world’s fittest human beings.

The organisers have said the cardboard beds are in line with their sustainability efforts but that has not stopped speculation that they are “anti-sex” beds meant to prevent sleepovers, innocent or intimate, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Fears of the virus spreading at the Games, especially at the already heavily restricted athletes’ village, have mounted over the past few days with three athletes testing positive for the infection while six competitors and two staffers from Great Britain’s team were self-isolating after being identified as close contacts with a case.

Speculation of the bed’s “anti-sex” design first came from American athlete Paul Chelimo, a silver medallist in 5000 metres at the 2016 Rio Olympics, as athletes began pouring into Japan in recent weeks and found out how they would be spending their nights during the Games.

 

“This is aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes. Beds will be able to withstand the weight of a single person to avoid situations beyond sports,” he tweeted. “I see no problem for distance runners, even 4 of us can do …”

 

The track and field athlete joked that he would be sleeping on the floor, and would sell his bed to NBA superstar Kevin Durant or one of the other basketball players if their beds collapsed.

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“Just flip the wardrobe horizontally and put the mattress on top. The wardrobe looks like it’s made of wood,” a netizen replied to Chelimo on Twitter.

But there appears to be a more practical reason the beds were made of cardboard: they are part of the Games’ sustainability plan. The bed frames are made from recyclable cardboard, with mattresses formed of polythene which will be recycled into plastic products after the Olympics.

 

Beds’ manufacturer Airweave is confident that the 2.1-metre long bed can bear a weight of around 200 kilograms, which is more than any weight of the athletes who took part in Rio.

 

“They are stronger than wooden beds,” Takashi Kitajima, the general manager of the athletes’ village said, when introducing the design in January.

 

Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, who is now in the village, tweeted a video with a little test to dispel the myth of the “anti-sex” design.

“They’re made of cardboard, yes. But apparently, they aren’t meant to break at any sudden movements,” the 21 year-old said while hopping up and down on his own bed.

“It’s fake, fake news!” he concluded.

Condoms have always been distributed to athletes at the Games since the 1988 Seoul Olympics to raise awareness of HIV and Aids.

 

 

‘Anti-sex’ cardboard beds at Tokyo Olympics athletes’ village spark online rumours

Tokyo Olympic organisers will still deliver about 150,000 condoms, but as part of the coronavirus preventive measures, participants will not be given supplies during their stay at the village but will instead receive them as souvenirs upon their departure.

“We go to Tokyo to compete in the Olympics and won’t think too much beyond our competitions. We only need the bed to sleep and the rest is not our concern,” a Hong Kong athlete who is now in Tokyo told the Post.

Athletes are actually encouraged to “keep physical interactions with others to a minimum” and “avoid physical contact, including hugs and handshakes” for virus prevention. This is according to the 

Tokyo 2020

 Playbook, which outlines the responsibilities and rules of all Games participants.

Failure to comply may result in fines, disqualification, medal stripping and deportation.

The village, which can house 18,000 athletes and team members, has taken a series of antivirus measures to ensure the Games will be safe. For example, athletes will be tested daily and required to wear masks except during competition, eating and sleeping. And there will be no partying, officials warned.

 

 

*원문 https://www.scmp.com/tokyo-2020-olympic-games/article/3141646/tokyo-2020-anti-sex-beds-rumours-fly-olympic-games