The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has come under heavy criticism in recent days over the decision to remove its competitors from the Athletes Village at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games once they’re done competing.
The new restrictions will still allow the athletes to be in Paris after they’re done competing, just not in the Village.
The AOC claims the move was made in order to prevent distractions from the athletes who still have to compete and points to the team’s results in Tokyo—when such restrictions were in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic—as the reasoning behind the decision.
“The learnings from Tokyo were absolutely positive that for the athletes who are competing in the second week, reducing the load on the village by athletes who have finished was positive for both their preparation and their health,” said Matt Carroll, the chief executive of the AOC.
The swimming competition in Paris will take place during the first week of the Games, as is the norm. The new rules will require competitors to leave the Village within 48 hours of their event finishing.
“We want all of the athletes to be able to perform at their best, whether they have a medal chance or not, so it doesn’t matter what sport you’re in. … This is about performance. It’s not for the wowsers, we’re actually doing it for the athletes who are still competing,” said Carroll.
As expected, this decision has been met with plenty of backlash, with many claiming that being around the village and celebrating once you’re done competing is an integral part of the Olympic experience.
Among those being outspoken is James Magnussen, a two-time Australian Olympian and three-time medalist who says the move reduces the Olympics from being the most prestigious event of an athlete’s career to just another competition.
“As an athlete who has competed at two Olympics, I strongly believe that everyone who makes the Australian team in Paris deserves to have the full Olympic experience,” Magnussen wrote for the Herald Sun.
“That includes staying in the village for the closing ceremony and supporting their teammates.
“Being an Olympian is not just about winning medals. It is a rare achievement that deserves to be properly celebrated – no matter what result they achieve.
“Most athletes only ever get to one Olympic Games, so just making the team is the reward for a lifetime of hard work. They should be allowed to soak up every moment. Sending them home early just makes no sense.”
Three-time Olympic medalist Giaan Rooney echoed that sentiment.
“I think it’s a real shame because for most people this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Rooney told News Corp. “Because alcohol is banned in the village any parties all take place outside the village, but there’s already plenty of noise and distraction because people are coming and going all the time.
“But that’s all part of the Olympic experience and it’s actually inspiring to see people walk around the village who have won medals. It gives everyone a lift…. a lot of the best memories I have are of getting dressed up and going and supporting my teammates.”
Ken Wallace, a former Olympian and the deputy chair of the Athletes’ Commission, said that while the athletes’ voices were heard, he ultimately believes this is the best decision from a performance standpoint.
“I agree that being in the Olympic Village is a part of the whole Olympic Games experience but I don’t agree that it should outweigh performance,” Wallace said.
“We all love a good larrikin (an Australian term for a boisterous, young person), but we also want to be a respectful team.
“So while they may be kicked out of the village, they’re not being kicked out of Paris or being kicked out of the Olympic environment.
“They can still go see other events and still be a part of that Olympic experience but we want to give every athlete that performance outcome and opportunity to compete at their very best without having any distractions around them.”
Amidst the COVID-19 restrictions, Australia won 17 gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, tying their highest ever (also winning 17 in 2004), and claimed 46 total medals to tie their third-highest tally ever.
Less Australian Olympic babies being made means easier comp for USA
Magnussen would make a great proctor in the dormitory.
Does anyone see/hear the irony of Mr. Disrupter at the 2012 Olympics –Magnussen — talking about staying in the village? What a hypocrite. He flopped every expectation relays + individuals, and then was a jerk to other athletes == and this is NOT even going into the Stilnox episode.
That’s what I was thinking reading that part.
He jeopardized the chances of Australia in London and now he’s talking like this?
Why you bagging James ya keyboard warriors,a world champion! Seriously no respect ya kook
You know the IOC had something good going with their more sustainable model for the games, but in actual execution they seem determined to ruin Paris 2024, there’s no reason to not have enough housing for all of the athletes…
OMG I’m going to piss off so many people tomorrow when I repeatedly work the word “larrikin” into conversations and then act annoyed that they don’t know what it means and I have to, condescendingly, explain it to them. Thanks SwimSwam, it’s the little gifts like this that keep me coming back.
The response to you dropping in a random ‘larrikin’ would be to call you a ‘drongo’:-)
What is a drongo? I need a word for Wednesday too.
Drongo is kind of a half-wit. It really suggests you’re a bit slow and a bit of an idiot. So make bad decisions and then are surprised when the obvious consequences play out.
It pretty much just means ‘dick’ or ‘idiot’, you drongo 🙂
It pretty much means ‘idiot’ or ‘*banned word*’ you drongo 😉
Seems like it’s hard to explain since every synonym seems to be a banned word on here….
‘dummy’?
The auto moderation here is really s-t-u-p-1-d.
I tried d-i-c-k or i-d-i-o-t or f-o-o-l. It’s… oh wait I better say n-u-t-s…
OK chill time….there was a long story today saying that this whole thing has been handled badly by the AOC…..bottom line is the Paris organisers have cut 4000 beds from the village so athletes HAVE to move out to accommodate incoming athletes for the last week. This will affect every team, especially the big ones. It sounds like a big game of Tetris….
Athletes wont be marched onto a plane back to Australia, but can stay in Paris in private accommodation.
The AOC communicated this badly, releasing it late on a Sunday night without telling athletes first.
It’s not communicated ‘badly’ it’s completely misrepresented – those are two totally different justifications.
Indeed…..so it is very, very bad clust%%&*k!
The journalist in the report could not believe what a complete mess the AOC made of the announcement.
I bet!
Lol yeah that’s not miscommunication, that’s just complete idiocy
And if the Aussies don’t do nearly as well in Paris as they did in Tokyo, the AOC will doubtless blame the disappointing results on the absence of face masks.
No doubt these same bureaucrats will be there the whole time indulging in all the event has to offer.
Well most of them will be staying in 5* hotels outside the village and drinking as much alcohol as they like and then being chauffeur-driven to any Olympic events they might want to attend or present medals in.