LITTLE BRITAIN
Inside Team GB’s island recluse for Paris 2024 Olympics with nightclub, royal receptions and exclusive coffee shops
The nightclub area had one strict rule though
AN AWARD-WINNING barista, red telephone boxes, dartboards and pool tables – welcome inside the Team GB quarters at the Paris Olympics.
The British Olympic Association have left no stone unturned as they try to create the right environment at the Athletes Village for the 327-strong squad involved over 16 days of competition.
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Attention to detail in these high-intense situations is key and in the GB quarters, there are special things that will remind them of home.
The Brits are lodged on a small island complex on the Seine – an oasis of “peace and calm” says chef de mission Mark England – and they are stayed next to the Dominican Republic, Azerbaijani and Turkish delegations.
On site is a mobile coffee outlet, which is run by Joanne Osborne from Evesham, who was crowned Costa Coffee’s UK&I Barista of the Year in April 2024.
To relax, they can lounge in the recreational area, throw darts, play a game of pool, take Polaroid camera shots and play puzzle games.
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In the courtyard to the complex, the BOA have installed a red telephone box – but it’s minus the actual telephone.
Athletes can send postcards to loved ones back home in the UK – the pick-up is 12pm daily.
Just inside the block are two mannequins named ‘Fred and Ginger’ – named after the famous American dancing couple Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of the 1920s and 30s.
And the colour of the shirt on the two dummies indicates the colour of the day for all 750-strong Team GB members.
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To keep cool as the heat rises, more than £70,000 has been spent on air conditioning within the blocks.
Upon arrival, athletes are shown special videos that contains messages of good luck from ex-England captain David Beckham, Olympic champions Jessica Ennis-Hill, Tessa Sanderson and Chris Hoy.
FLOATING OLYMPIC VILLAGE
Actors Danny May, comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, cricketer Joe Root, chef Tom Kerridge, presenter Ferne Cotton, singer Lulu, footballers Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Pickford, Oli Watkins and Aaron Ramsdale have all contributed, too.
Participants are handed small neck pendants with rings – the number of rings reflect the amount of Games they have attended.
So, for example, diver Tom Daley and tennis legend Andy Murray would have been given five rings on their pendant as Paris represents their fifth Olympics.
Though there have been cases of Covid within some international teams, there are no designated tests for the killer bug as there was at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympics.
Masks are optional but the message to everybody is clear – “Be Safe, Be Smart, Protect the Team”.
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Brits are strongly encouraged to “close the toilet seat before flushing”, use hand sanitiser, stay hydrated and team meetings are often held outside.
There are more than 200,000 condoms available for the 10,500 athletes and sex is a big part of the Olympics experience.
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Alcohol, however, is not permitted on site but there is a nightclub area for late-night partying.
And if you can stomach it, there is zero-free Corona alcohol available for those who have finished competition.
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What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
Paris 2024 Olympics - Day -1
Women's handball and archery gets underway today while the Rugby sevens continues with some quarter-final action.
Spain, Brazil and Germany are all in action in the women's football as well.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.