What REALLY goes on at the Olympic Village: Inside the accommodation where top athletes spend their down-time, including a hairdresser and a creche (but don’t ask for French fries!)

It has almost been a week since the Olympics kicked off in Paris on July 26 and Team GB has won several gold medals in various sports, from swimming and diving to the canoe slalom. 

After a long day of competing, 14,000 athletes descend onto the Olympic Village, which is spread across three areas in Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint Ouen and L’Île-Saint-Denis.

But how do the athletes relax after training for an event for the past four years?

The answer is to visit a Tiki bar for some drinks, get their hair and nails done in the salon and relax in a mindfulness room. 

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at everything Olympians may get up to when they aren’t bagging gold, silver and bronze for their countries.  

Tiki bar

Team Australia tennis player Daria Saville, 30, shared what the inside of the Olympic Village was like on her TikTok page.

The Tiki bar was blasting music to keep spirits high and athletes could get various non-alcoholic drinks

Team Australia tennis player Daria Saville could be heard discussing non-alcoholic beer

Team Australia tennis player Daria Saville could be heard discussing non-alcoholic beer

She was walking with her friends when they came across a trendy wooden Tiki bar that had various plants growing out of it. 

The bar was blasting music to keep spirits high and athletes could get various non-alcoholic drinks. Some of them even have their own DJs. 

These are dotted throughout the village so they can quench their thirst after a long day of competing for gold. 

Daria could be heard saying: ‘I’m guessing it tastes like beer but is non-alcoholic?’

Viewers expressed how jealous they were for not getting to stay there, with others  branding the village an ‘adult summer camp’.

Bakery, Costa coffee and slushies 

Jennifer Lehane, a team Ireland boxer, also shared more information about the inside of the village for the Paris Olympics. 

She said athletes get freshly baked bread and pastries inside a shop, however it is all seemingly free of charge. 

Jennifer said athletes get freshly baked bread and pastries inside a shop, however it is all seemingly free of charge

Jennifer said athletes get freshly baked bread and pastries inside a shop, however it is all seemingly free of charge

She also revealed that there is a Costa coffee stand where Olympians can get barista-made coffee for free

She also revealed that there is a Costa coffee stand where Olympians can get barista-made coffee for free

She also revealed that there is a Costa coffee stand where Olympians can get their caffeine fix without spending a penny. 

The stall is on their doorstep, meaning they can step out and get whatever beverage they like after a day of training.

The team Ireland camp has also got a free slushie machine with four different flavours so they can cool down in the hot weather. 

Jennifer also shared that there was a Tiki bar, prompting a response from Simone Biles who said: ‘Where is this tiki bar you speak of??!!’

She then responded: ‘Past the Olympic rings to the right! I will gladly show you. Have a great tournament.’

Canteen offering global cuisine 

Athletes from around the world can eat their favourite foods as each country is broken up into different sections

Athletes from around the world can eat their favourite foods as each country is broken up into different sections 

There are up to 3,300 seats in the main area of the canteen, as 14,000 Olympians are in Paris

There are up to 3,300 seats in the main area of the canteen, as 14,000 Olympians are in Paris 

The catering service makes up to 60,000 meals a day and there are 3,300 seats in the main restaurant. 

Australian boxer Tina Rahimi showed her followers around the grounds, detailing the different dishes you can get. 

Athletes from around the world can eat their favourite foods as each country is broken up into different sections, with the menu rotating every eight days.

These range from French cuisine to African-Caribbean food. The venue also has a halal section for those who follow the Islamic faith. 

Hairdresser and beauty salons

Dutch swimmer Valerie Vanroon got her hair washed, cut and styled during her trip

Dutch swimmer Valerie Vanroon got her hair washed, cut and styled during her trip

The hairdressers offer a variety of free treatments such as manicures, hair styling, facial grooming, hair cuts and washing

The hairdressers offer a variety of free treatments such as manicures, hair styling, facial grooming, hair cuts and washing

The Olympic village is also home to glamorous hairdressers and beauty salons with staff on hand to help athletes look their best.

They offer a variety of free treatments such as manicures, hair styling, facial grooming, hair cuts and washing.

Dutch swimmer Valerie Vanroon got her hair washed, cut and styled during her trip to the salon and seemed very pleased with the result. 

Gym and mindfulness rooms 

It also has a mindfulness room, with relaxing blue lights inside along with yoga mats with couches so they can rest after a long day

It also has a mindfulness room, with relaxing blue lights inside along with yoga mats with couches so they can rest after a long day

There is a fully-equipped gym for them to use that is open 24 hours-a-day for athletes

There is a fully-equipped gym for them to use that is open 24 hours-a-day for athletes

As an athlete representing your country, it is important that they stay fit and healthy, so it is no surprise there is a large, fully-equipped gym for them to use that is open 24 hours-a-day.  

Jessica Fox, an Australian canoeist, shared the inside of the Olympic Village with her followers.

She entered the gym and showed them that it had several exercise bikes, rowing machines and squat racks. 

It also has a mindfulness room, with relaxing blue lights inside along with yoga mats with couches so they can rest after a long day.

A crèche 

For the first time, the Olympic Village now offers a nursery fully-equipped with play areas and equipment for parents, such as wipes and nappies.

It is the first time parents can drop their children off to play as it is open from 9am to 9pm every day during the games. There is also a private breastfeeding space.

Two families can access the space at the same time, with athletes such as Hillary Heron already using the nursery. 

…And the things it doesn’t have

While Olympians may be able to enjoy a canteen full of their favourite foods from around the world, the two things they won’t be able to indulge in french fries, foie gras and avocados. 

This is because organisers cited logistical problems and potential risks to offering these dishes. 

 Earlier this year, Charles Guilloy, a chef at the village, told the New York Times: ‘French fries are too risky because of fire-hazard concerns over deep-fat fryers.

‘No to foie gras (which is the liver of a duck or goose) because animal well-being is on everyone’s mind. 

‘And no to avocados because they are imported from a great distance and consume a lot of water.’

But Team GB bosses revealed that they were flying their own chefs out there after calling the food on offer ‘inadequate’.

Andy Anson, the British Olympic Association’s chief executive, told the Times: ‘There are not enough of certain foods, eggs, chicken, certain carbohydrates, and then there is the quality of the food, with raw meat being served to athletes.’

Sodexo Live, the company in charge of catering, said it has increased the daily order of the most popular foods such as eggs and chicken after complaints.

A spokesman told L’Equipe that they are ‘working to increase our supplies to the restaurants in the athletes’ village’.



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