Chinese social media has been flooded with a mix of enthusiastic support and concerned comments following the arrival of the national Olympic delegation in Paris for the 2024 Games.

Netizens have expressed unwavering admiration and words of encouragement for Chinese athletes such as table tennis players Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, as well as hurdler Wu Yanni. There is a strong sense of national pride for the 405-athlete delegation, which includes 136 male and 269 female athletes with an average age of 25, competing across 236 events in 30 sports — a historical high in the number of events featuring Team China at an overseas Olympic Games.

However, this enthusiasm has been overshadowed by concerns over athletes’ living conditions in the Olympic Village.

These comments are sparked in part by Paris 2024’s efforts to be the greenest Olympics in history by halving the carbon footprint compared to previous editions in London and Rio (where each event garnered more than 3 million tonnes of CO2). This is to be achieved through measures such as only building a single new permanent new venue (an aquatics center constructed from recycled materials and powered by solar energy), organizing an eco-friendly cycling network linking Olympic venues together, and offering athletes more plant-based meals.

However, these efforts to enhance sustainability also mean competitors have to make due with a range of amenities that some might consider insufficient for professional athletes. In the Olympic Village the 9 athletes living on a floor will share 1 sofa and 2 toilets; save energy by maintaining room temperatures ranging between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius; and use reusable furniture such as cardboard beds and chairs.

In response, some netizens have criticized the newly renovated rooms’ plain decor and strong formaldehyde-like odor (甲醛味, jiǎquán wèi). They’ve even questioned whether the Games have invested sufficiently in their environmentally-friendly plans. Others have debated over whether Parisian weather is comfortable enough to deal with no air conditioning in the rooms.

The online community on Xiaohongshu have also dubbed Paris 2024 as a “self-initiated Olympics” (自主奥运), where athletes have had to find ways to gain a competitive edge — like bringing their own mattresses and portable air conditioners, or even private chefs to cook personalized meals.

Despite these challenges, the overall sentiment from netizens is one of pride and confidence in Chinese athletes’ ability to excel. Through their hard work and unwavering support from the Chinese public, the nation looks poised to make a strong showing in Paris and build upon its legacy of Olympic success.

Banner image via Wang Chuqin / Xiaohongshu.