The Late Skimm: The World’s Least Welcoming Beds Are Back

What’s Happening

Sports

The World’s Least Welcoming Beds Are Back

What’s going on: Simone Biles is settling into her cardboard bed. No, really. For those who aren’t tethered to TikTok, the Paris organizers have brought back the infamous “anti-sex” cardboard beds from the 2020/2021 Tokyo Games — which, reminder, weren’t really about keeping people apart and more about the environment. The beds are also sturdier than you think. Just as they did in Tokyo, numerous athletes — see: videos from British diver Tom Daley, Irish rugby player Harry McNulty, Australian tennis player Daria Saville — have already tested them out (no, not like that). In fact, they may even be too sturdy, as evidenced by Australian water polo player Tilly Kearns’s account of her first night on the “actually rock solid” bed. It probably doesn’t help that the minimalist setup only includes a mattress, mattress topper, dinky duvet, and exactly one pillow. (Simone, we salute your commitment to accessorizing.)

The beds aren’t the only controversial aspect of the Olympic Village rooms: Organizers tried to forgo air conditioning in an attempt to make these the “greenest ever Games.” That prompted the US (among others) to BYO, after athletes said AC was “a critical component in their performance capability.” Reasonable. Still, the accommodations have come a long way: At the first-ever Olympic Village, during the 1924 Paris Games, athletes stayed in temporary wooden huts which were “quite primitive in design.” You know who won’t be roughing it during this year’s Games? The surfers, who are competing in French Polynesia and staying on a luxury cruise ship (aka the “floating Olympic Village”). Presumably there’s no cardboard in sight.

Related: Read the Olympic Village rules on everything from posting on social media to drinking alcohol (Cosmopolitan)

Meanwhile, On The Internet

👀 Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigned, after widespread anger over the agency’s failure to prevent the near-assassination of former President Trump.

🐝 Beyoncé reportedly gave Kamala Harris permission to use this song for her presidential campaign. Charli XCX, your move.

😉 To whoever wrote the messaging on the condoms given to Olympians: A+.

🪶 Dearest Gentle Reader, think you know which Bridgerton sibling will be the focus of Season 4? Think again.

👶 The name of the fourth Lively-Reynolds baby has been revealed — and it didn’t come from Taylor Swift.

The Final Countdown

On your marks, get set, watch. NBC Olympics coverage begins this Friday, July 26 on NBC and Peacock at 7:30/6:30c.*