Olympic Village Rules: Olympic Athletes’ Regulations During the Games

Olympians are living the dream by achieving their goals and making it to the Games. But did you know the athletes have dozens of rules they need to follow once the day is over? 

Each of the athletes have specific rules they must follow while in Paris – the 2024 Summer Olympic Games host city – for their stay. The Olympic Village is full of the best athletes in the world, so it makes sense that there are rules in place to keep everyone safe. 

Here are some of the most surprising rules you didn’t know your favorite Olympians have to follow while staying in the Olympic Village, from opening ceremony to the last day of competition. 

1. Olympians must live in country-specific headquarters

 Sharing apartments with different country teams is not allowed in the Olympic Village. Team USA must live with other members of Team USA, and so on. Each team has a specific number of buildings and housing for their athletes. Team USA, for instance, has four buildings specifically for their athletes. The Olympic Village director for the U.S., Daniel Smith, explained that the amount of housing for each team depends on the “size of the delegation.” 

2. Minor aged athletes must room with other minors

 Of course, many of the athletes that make it to the Olympic Games are under the age of 18, like this year’s 16-year-old artistic gymnastics competitor, Hezly Rivera. Smith shared that they try to keep minor athletes with other minors. He explained, “So we don't mix folks that are under 18 with folks that are over 18, except for very specific circumstances.” Specific circumstances might be an athlete having a parent with them if a team leader sees fit. 

3. There are Olympic Village quiet hours

  Just like in college, the Olympic Village has specific quiet hours. These are in place so that athletes can be well rested without interruption from other competitors  in their residence hall. These quiet hours are specifically from 10:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m., but that doesn’t mean athletes have to be in their rooms by 10:00 p.m. 

“[Athletes] can do as they please,” Smith explained. “We just can't have music blaring out of an apartment at 10-11 p.m. just to make sure people are getting their rest and recovery.” 

4. Team USA doesn’t allow alcohol in their headquarters

Team USA is extremely specific about not having alcohol in their living quarters, applicable to the 2024 Paris Olympics. While most of the competitors are adults and can drink legally, Team USA wants to be sure their athletes are focused and on top of their game. They also want to be sure everyone is respectful of the athletes who still have competitions to prepare for. 

5. No pets are allowed in the Olympic Village

No dogs (or other pets) are allowed in the Olympic Village. While Smith says that they tried to have pets be allowed for specific reasons, he also explained that it was due to French governmental regulations that there are no furry friends allowed in the Village. 

6. Athletes don’t have to stay in the Village

Although the Olympic Village has amenities for all athletes competing in the games, inclung a dining hall and accomodations, competitors don’t have to stay in the Village. The USA Basketball team, for instance, is not staying in the provided housing, but that also means they need to find their own quarters. 

“Basically, you're outside of the bubble at that point, so Paris 2024 won't provide you transportation from your specific hotel,” Smith explained. So, if a team chooses to find their own place to stay, they also must provide their own meals, transportation and anything else that the Village would have otherwise provided for the team.

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