Team USA Chooses Luxury Over Tradition: Basketball Stars Invest $15 Million for Privacy at Olympics

Team USA’s basketball superstars have chosen to live outside the Olympic Village during the 2024 Olympic Games, underscoring their status and preference for privacy. According to a report by Forbes, this decision comes with a hefty price tag of $15 million.

Cardboard beds in the Olympic Village? US basketball players live in luxury hotel

For Paris, USA Basketball has leased a hotel in the city center with about 800 rooms, according to the former director involved in the 2019 and 2020 contract negotiations. (The former director declined to disclose the exact location for security reasons.) It will have to accommodate a large traveling group that includes not only the players, but also their families, coaches, executives and NBA staff.

The decision to stay in luxury accommodations rather than the traditional Olympic Village is nothing new for high-level athletes. The reasons often cited include a desire for more privacy, better security and greater comfort – the beds in the Olympic Village are simply too short and the rooms are not air-conditioned. For Team USA, which features some of the biggest names in basketball, these factors are likely to be decisive.

Staying outside of the Olympic Village allows players to maintain a level of comfort and routine they are accustomed to during the NBA season. This can be critical to performance as it allows athletes to focus on their preparation without the distractions that come with the busy environment of the Olympic Village.

$15 million for accommodation, transportation and security

The $15 million expenditure will not only cover accommodation costs, but also additional security measures, transportation and other logistical requirements. The investment demonstrates the importance of ensuring athletes are in the best possible environment to compete at the highest level.

In addition, the transportation of players to training and games and the shipment of team equipment to Paris must also be arranged. The USOPC contributes in certain areas, for example by providing access to a high-performance training center it is building in Paris and by providing economy class airline tickets for the athletes. However, other services, such as charter flights, are the responsibility of the USA basketball team.

The NBA provides some of the security, as does the State Department. “It’s very covert,” the former director says. “We have eyes and ears and we coordinate with the locals to make sure everything is OK. The State Department covers its own costs, and in some cases the USOPC will supplement the effort with a local security agency.

Some may consider this an extravagant expense, but it is a strategic move to maximize the team’s chances of success. Players’ comfort and well-being are seen as crucial factors in their performance on the field.

As the Games progress, all eyes will be on Team USA to see if that investment pays off in the form of gold medals. Regardless of the outcome of the Games, the decision to reside outside of the Olympic Village highlights the unique challenges and considerations that elite athletes face on the world stage.

By Len Werle

2024-08-01 20:37:27
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