It has the Vegas effect of secrecy—what happens at the Olympic Village stays at the Olympic Village. But even the most disciplined athletes spill secrets sometimes. Tensions were high when the Olympians arrived at the Paris 2024 Olympics last month. They were nervous, they channeled that fevered energy into excitement, and they immediately set out to create both fleeting and lasting bonds. By now, they’ve learned to navigate the maze of the Olympic Village. It’s become their home away from home (much like dorm rooms on college campuses). And so, traditions arise.
Olympians are focused and impressive with their feats. Still, they manage to enjoy lighthearted moments among themselves. Some of their traditions are wholesome while others will have you raising an eyebrow. Learning about the idiosyncratic lore that goes on behind the scenes reminds you that while these participants have seemingly superhuman abilities, they are much like you in their downtime. They laugh together, they share performance secrets, they learn about each other’s cultures, and they let their hair down to invite some fun into their lives.
Since Olympians are there to compete, they are full of energy. When they’re not training, that energy must be expelled somehow. That’s what creates the buzzing environment in the village (this excess energy can also be blamed for how wild things get sometimes). Music blares, they show off their dance moves, and connect with ease. All they have to do to strike up a conversation is ask which sport they’re in. Just like that, they become fast friends. Some athletes have described the Olympic Village like a magical place, where the possibilities are endless. Intriguing, right?
To put together this list of quirky Olympic Village traditions you’ve never heard of, 247 Tempo reviewed several sources, including ESPN, NBC News, People, the NY Times, and of course, Reddit, where anonymity rules.
The Trading of Pins
This is one of the wholesome traditions at the Olympic Village that is open to all athletes, their coaches, volunteers, and even officials. Pin collectors are especially excited about this tradition. More people have joined in over the years, including media workers and servers. In Paris, they’re all looking for these small, metal pieces of art. Trading pins at the Olympics is now an integral part of the experience. This tradition first began in 1896, so you can imagine just how much it’s evolved. At that time, cardboard badges were a hot commodity. Today, they’ve evolved into pins. Some of these pins are exceptionally detailed. They’re works of art in and of themselves while other pins are meant to represent various entities, whether brands or people.
Cross-Cultural Evenings
The Olympic Games bring people from around the world together, placing them into a buzzing melting pot full of similarities and differences. Athletes don’t just bond over their like-mindedness and similar interests, but they also bond as they learn about one another’s cultural traditions. Typically, each country hosts a cultural night during which they share their traditional meals and music. They dance together and make the evenings lively, learning more about one another and experiencing unique moments they would not have had the opportunity to relish elsewhere.
Wish on a Wall
Mindset is crucial for Olympians leading up to their events. They work on their mental health and mindset training independently but one of the traditions in the Olympic Village involves encouraging words. There are bulletin boards throughout where athletes leave notes for one another, offering words of encouragement for upcoming events. Even though some of these athletes are competing with one another, there is still a sense of camaraderie as they navigate the games. They demonstrate true sportsmanship. That’s not all that gets put on these bulleting boards, however. Sometimes, athletes write down their hopes and dreams and place them on the wall, connecting with others on their shared ambitions.
Fashion Struts
During downtime at the Olympics, athletes return to their makeshift homes to pass the time in creative ways. Some of them take the opportunity to set up impromptu fashion shows, either showing off cultural garb or their personality through their clothing choices. This year, athletes were invited to walk at PARITY Paris, a formal runway show hosted by the 4TheWalk clothing brand. The host provided the looks and the athletes-turned-models for the event took the runway, strutting their stuff even though many of them had never walked a runway. They’re not exactly making a career jump, but this fashion show has given them the opportunity to try something different.
Games and Competitions
Although they’re there to compete in their respective sports, athletes also venture outside their expertise in the village to play and compete with one another. These are Olympians, after all. You can’t take the competitive spirit out of them. They’re more playful about it in these settings, however. Some of the games they play include ping pong but they also challenge one another with fitness competitions, testing one another’s strength and stamina.
Condom Dispersal
The medical clinic at the Olympics operates with the understanding that fit, active, attractive people in the same place means intimate relations are inevitable Instead of turning a blind eye, they acknowledge the truth of the matter and equip the Olympic Village with thousands and thousands of condoms. In the Sydney 2000 Games, the distribution of condoms was capped at 70,000, and surprisingly, that wasn’t enough for the athletes. After that, the number reached 100,000 to ensure Olympians are equipped with the tools they need to be safe while gallivanting.
Birthday Celebrations
Athletes who have birthdays that fall within the timeframe of the Olympic Games get to enjoy Olympic Village celebrations alongside their peers. Anthony Edwards from Team USA recently celebrated his 23rd birthday at the Paris 2024 Olympics in an Italian restaurant. He celebrated alongside several other athletes, including those from the gymnastics teams and US basketball teams. Alex Rodriguez, the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves was present as well. The way athletes celebrate their respective birthdays varies. Some may designate a location for the celebration while others receive more impromptu congratulations. They come through via well wishes, cakes, gifts, and “happy birthday” songs.
Spontaneous Dance-offs
The energy stays high in the Olympic Village and it often gets expressed through spontaneous dance-offs. This is all in keeping with the spirit of the environment, which isn’t just high energy but also highly competitive. Just like athletes engage in games and other types of competitions in the village, they also participate in random dance-offs. Since athletes arrive from all over the world, language barriers may make it difficult for some Olympians to communicate. However, dance is its own language and each athlete can share a bit about their culture via music and dance movements. These dance-offs are meant to be fun-loving and foster unity despite language barriers.
Commemorative Tattoos
Going to the Olympics is a big deal and many athletes choose to mark their bodies permanently to remember their time competing. Chris Jacobs, a swimmer who took home one silver medal and two gold medals in the 1988 Olympics started this tradition. He had the Olympic rings tattooed on his hip and later on his arm. Other athletes followed suit, commemorating their time at the Olympics with the Olympic rings, their country’s flag, or something related to their sport. There are often tattoo artists who set up in the Olympic Village ready to create art on the bodies of athletes who wish to pay tribute to the occasion.
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