Tokyo 2020; Innovative beds for Olympic Village and Paralympic Village
Press release by Tokyo 2020:
Bedding specifically designed to improve sleep will be provided for athletes

Tokyo, 24 September 2019 – The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) today unveiled the special bedding furniture and materials that will be provided at the Olympic and Paralympic Villages during the Tokyo 2020 Games, including beds made from high resistance lightweight cardboard and mattresses specifically designed to improve sleeping quality and comfort. 18,000 beds for the Olympic Village and 8,000 beds for the Paralympic Village will be provided by airweave inc., an official Tokyo 2020 partner company.
The design of the mattress leverages the latest innovations in bed surface technology. It comprises three distinct sections supporting the upper, middle and lower body, and the hardness of each section can be customised to suit each athlete’s body shape. The pillows have an indentation in the centre, providing good support for the neck and head regardless of whether athletes are sleeping on their backs or on their sides.
All of the bed frames will be made from high resistance cardboard, which will be able to support weights of up to 200kg. They will be recycled into paper products after the Games, with the mattress components being recycled into new plastic products. This will be the first time in Olympic and Paralympic history that all Villages’ beds and bedding are made almost entirely from renewable materials.
Tokyo 2020 has established as its guiding sustainability principle “Be better, together – For the planet and the people” and aims to minimise resource waste and ecosystem depletion in its use of materials. It has set a target of 99% of items and goods procured for the Games being reused or recycled afterwards. This project represents another positive demonstration of ways in which a more sustainable society can be realised using resources more efficiently.
Bed frame details
Size | W90cm × L210cm × H40cm (20cm extensions will be available for taller athletes) |
Composition | 100% cardboard |
Features | Highly durable and impact resistant
Waterproof Tested for flammability Light weight |
Sustainability | All beds will be converted into recycled paper after the Games |
Mattress
Size | W90cm × L200cm (approx.) × H10cm |
Inner material | 100% polyethylene New material “airfiber” |
Cover and mattress pad material |
100% polyester |
Features | Hardness can be customised to suit each athletes’ body shape with tri-section structure: (shoulders / lower back / legs)
Shoulders: soft / moderate Lower Back: hard / moderate Legs: super hard / moderate |
Sustainability | Mattress components will be recycled into new plastic products |
Duvet details
Size | W150cm × L210cm |
Inner Material | 70% polyester fibre and 30% rayon fibre (athletes with allergies can safely use as it contains no feathers) |
Cover Material | Front: 100% polyester fibre Back: 80% polyester fibre and 20% rayon fibre |
Features | Antimicrobial and deodorant finishing
Excellent humidity control |
Design | Different designs for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games |
Sustainability | Athletes can take home with them after the Games |
Pillow details
Size | W63cm × L43cm |
Inner cotton material | 100% polyester fibre |
Cover material | 85% polyester fibre and 15% cotton |
Source: The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Paris 2024; Brochure: Olympic and Paralympic Village
Paris 2024; Video Design Olympic Village
#Paris2024 c'est 95% d'infrastructures existantes ou temporaires et des investissements publics de @SOLIDEO_JOP au service des populations. La construction du Village Olympique et Paralympique offrira à la @seinesaintdenis un nouveau quartier durable, social et ouvert. #Mipim2019 pic.twitter.com/5JpaqXaxY3
— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) 12 maart 2019
Seoul 1988; Seoul Olympic Village

The Seoul Olympic Village Park is located next to the Olympic Park.
Capacity 15,000 People
Buildings 86
Units 3,962
Opened September 1 to October 5, 1988
Facilities Athletes Hall, Swimming Pool, Administration Centre
Design Wang Il-in and Woo Kyu-sung
Legacy use Residential area
Maps



Photos

PyeongChang 2018; Olympic village completed
Press release by POCOG:
PyeongChang, December 15 – The villages for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games are complete. A special ceremony took place today at the PyeongChang Village to recognize the completion of construction at both athletes’ villages, which will welcome their first guests on February 1.
The PyeongChang Village will be used to house up to 3,894 athletes and team officials during the Olympic Winter Games, and will then be used as the PyeongChang Paralympic Village where it will house up to 2,268 personnel. The second village in Gangneung will be used to accommodate more than 2,900 for the Olympic Winter Games only.
POCOG President LEE Hee-beom said, “The PyeongChang 2018 Villages are complete after years of hard work and we are pleased that they will serve as a legacy for the Games.
“The villages will serve as a place where athletes and officials can relax and connect with athletes from other nations, creating memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by the President of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee (POCOG), LEE Hee-beom, along with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, DO Jong-whan, National Assembly Member YEOM Dong-yeol, Gangwon Province Vice Govenor SONG Suk-doo, Gangwon Provincial Assembly Chairman KIM Dong-il, President of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, LEE Kee-heung, President of the Korea Paralympic Committee, LEE Myung-ho, PyeongChang County Mayor SIM Jae-gook, some other representatives of provincial government agencies and a selection of local residents.
The PyeongChang Village consists of 600 units across eight 15-storey buildings and was constructed by Yongpyong Resort with 180 billion won of private investment. The Gangneung Village has 922 units across nine 25-storey buildings and was constructed by Korea Land and Housing Corporation at a cost of 214.6 billion won.
Both villages have been designed to provide a home from home for the participating athletes and officials, and have been built in locations that allow for short travel times to the respective competition venues near each village.
Onsite, residents will find a host of facilities that they’ve come to expect and enjoy at all Summer and Winter Games including a bank, post office, general store, laundry service, fitness centre, recreational centre, a beauty salon and a multi-faith centre. The villages also have a large dining facility that will cater a wide range of cuisines and dietary requirements and serve up meals 24 hours a day during the competition period.
Each athlete delegation will be part of an official welcome ceremony when they enter the village at the central square. This will be the site for various cultural events and performances during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games including K-pop concerts, traditional Korean musical performances and special mask dances on Lunar New Year’s Day. The cultural programme within the villages has been designed to meet the cultural vision of the Games and give all delegations the chance to experience more than just their competition venue and sport during their time in PyeongChang.
Both villages were offered for sale to the general public and were completely sold out in May, 2017 and November, 2017 in PyeongChang and Gangneung respectively. They will leave a legacy from the Games for generations to come.
All that remains to be done is the final overlay and completion of the temporary tents that will be used as village operational facilities. The construction on both villages began back in mid-2015 and was completed on time.
Barcelona 1992; Port Olímpic
The Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games are widely regarded as one of the most successful ever. Throughout 2017, 25 years later, we look back at the Games that forever changed Barcelona. (see all posts in this series)
Part 29 – Barcelona 1992; Port Olímpic
The Port Olímpic hosted the sailing events for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games.

Location
Photos; Port Olímpic in 2013



Barcelona 1992; Vila Olímpica (1)
The Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games are widely regarded as one of the most successful ever. Throughout 2017, 25 years later, we look back at the Games that forever changed Barcelona. (see all posts in this series)
Part 28 – Barcelona 1992; Vila Olímpica (1)
For the Olympic Village, the wastelands of Pablo Nou were redeveloped. Nowadays, this is a residential area.
Map: Area Olympic Village
Photos; Olympic Village in 2017



2024 Bid; Animated GIF: Proposed transformation Pleyel / Saint-Denis area into Olympic Village Paris 2024
This animated GIF shows how an area in the north of Paris will be transformed into an Olympic Village when the city is awarded the Games.
Map Olympic Village: Paris2024
Aerial image: Google Earth
Montage: Architecture of the Games
Rio 2016; Olympic Village Apartments on sale in June

According to The Rio Times, the Rio2016 Olympic Village apartments are expected to hit market in June.
Olympic / Paralympic Village legacy mode
- Renovations completed; 2017
- Buildings; 31 (up to 17 floors)
- Apartments; 3,604
Olympic / Paralympic Village during the Games
- Year completed; 2016
- Area; 200.000m2
- Type; New and permanent.
- Capacity; 31 Buildings with 18.000 beds.
- Facilities; Recreation area, park, gym, doctor’s office, restaurant, religious centre, banks, hairdressers and coffee shops
Location