USA’s Olympic Basketball Team Rents Luxury Cruise Ship While Others Live in Horrid Conditions
For this year’s Summer Olympics, instead of staying at the athletes’ village, Team USA’s prominent basketball figures have chosen to stay on a luxury cruise ship.
The team chartered the Silversea Silver Cloud and reserved all its cabins, amenities and attractions, The Sydney Morning Herald noted. NBA stars such as Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will be staying in the ship.
The Silver Cloud docked on the Port of Rio this weekend. It is currently surrounded by construction workers rushing to prepare the area, as well as police patrolling from the land and sea.
With 196 cabins, the cruise ship accommodates up to 296 people. Special seven-foot beds have been prepared for the athletes. They will also have their own chefs, concierge and Zika repellants.
Normally, each cabin could cost $13,000 a week to live in. I can’t imagine how big their bill is going be renting the whole cruise out for weeks.
“Combining spacious ocean-view suites and private verandas with stunning dining and entertainment options, our inaugural ship launched a new ocean standard and continues to epitomize Silversea’s vision of world-class cruise accommodations, service and amenities.”
An Olympic official released the following statement to the Daily Mail:
“The boat is not going to be going anywhere until the games are over and the players have gone. There will be the best security for them. They do not need to be disturbed as they are here to win medals and compete.
“If they stayed in the athletes’ village, they might be troubled for autographs even from the athletes and media. That would not be fair to them. They are very accommodating to fans when they can, but these are the Olympics.”
Meanwhile, other NBA players, like Matthew Dellavedova and Andrew Bogut, are staying in the athletes’ village.
Matthew Dellavedova (right) who’s representing Australia, won this year’s NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers and was then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Earning $16 million, Bogut was named Australia’s richest sport star in 2015. Yet here he is in the village, making his own shower curtain.
Unfortunately, poor conditions of the village have troubled athletes. Reported problems include exposed wiring, leaks and foul-smelling odor coming from canals with sewage.
The 2016 Summer Olympics will take place in Rio from August 5 to 21.
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