[imagesource: YouTube / News from WORLD]

This year’s Olympic Village experience will be very, very different from what’s come before.

Usually, athletes from around the world get to socialise when they take a break from training, and that’s part of what makes it such a global experience.

In addition – and you can make of this what you will – organisers order in huge amounts of condoms, which are distributed to each athlete.

Japanese organisers ordered 160 000 to be handed out in the Olympic Village, but there are strict rules to abide by.

We will get to those, but before we do, here’s a look at a video from CNN’s vault:

During the 1984 Olympic Games, CNN went inside the Olympic Village in Los Angeles to see what life was like for the greatest athletes of their day. See how the technology — and security — has changed in this video from the CNN archives.

Does gaming get any cooler than a video arcade?

If that video doesn’t work, you can watch it on CNN here.

So what does life inside the current Olympic Village look like? This via USA Today:

Coronavirus fears will dictate the day-to-day operations at the Olympic Village, where 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians are estimated to pass through. While inside the Village, athletes are to keep their mask on at all times, other than when: sleeping, eating, drinking, training or competing.

Mask-wearing is a requirement even while training at the state-of-the art fitness center, where athletes can tune up and cool down. But be sure to disinfect the equipment before and after use.

Additionally, organizers will be tracking athletes’ locations, and athletes without a smartphone will receive one at the Village.

There will be daily testing carried out, and as soon as an athlete is done competing, they have a maximum of 48 hours to leave.

Here’s a look inside the Village:

Introducing the #Tokyo2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village! pic.twitter.com/gPfUNkTlYi

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) June 20, 2021

Before you ask, talk of ‘no sex’ beds has been debunked by multiple athletes, including the US women’s rugby team.

Fraternising at the dining halls is also discouraged:

Menus will be made available through a smartphone app, and diners have been instructed to keep mealtimes as short as possible and leave once finished eating…

Signage and floor markings, intended to ensure physical distancing, will be present throughout the main dining hall — open 24 hours per day — and the rest of the Village, when applicable.

Despite all of these measures, athletes have spoken about enjoying meeting competitors from across the globe, and it’s not all business and no play.

There is a recreational centre, which includes some alternate-reality fun:

Check out the recreation centre at the #Tokyo2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village! 🏨

Take a trip to the onsen, ride the subway and make the #2020beat with the AR filming booth 😍 #kawaii#UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/Aiq1YXgDOW

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 13, 2021

I think I’d prefer those old school arcade games, but such is life.

[sources:cnn&usatoday]