Disneyland trip, outfits behind swimmer Luana Alonso getting kicked out of Olympic Village: ‘inappropriate’ environment
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso might’ve had too much fun during the Paris Olympics.
The 20-year-old Alonso was asked to leave the Olympic Village for creating an inappropriate environment, which was reportedly tied to a trip to Disneyland that angered Paraguayan Olympic officials and wearing skimpy outfits instead of team clothing.
Alonso documented the visit to Disneyland Paris with photos on Instagram after she failed to advance out of her heat and into the women’s100m butterfly semifinals on July 27.
Alonso modeled a pair of Mickey Mouse ears in front of the castle at Disneyland Park in a few snapshots, while another featured two champagne flutes toasting at the park. The drinking age in France is 18.
The photos were posted to a highlight on her Instagram account on July 29.
Paraguayan media outlets reported that Alonso chose a tourist destination over supporting her teammates, which upset the country’s Olympic leadership.
A separate report by The Daily Mail said Alonso became a distraction to other competitors with her “skimpy clothing and socializing with other athletes.”
Alonso checked into a hotel in Paris and visited high-end stores and restaurants after she was asked to leave the Olympic Village, according to the report.
“Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay,” Larissa Schaerer, the head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, said in a statement published by The Sun on Monday.
“We thank her for proceeding as instructed, as it was of her own free will that she did not spend the night in the Athletes’ Village.”
Alonso had reportedly been staying in the Olympic Village despite not qualifying in her event, which is allowed.
She also announced her retirement from the sport on social media after the race.
Alonso appeared to be back in the U.S. on Monday when she posted a photo of an American flag to her Instagram Story.
“Pony up,” she wrote with a peace sign emoji over another snapshot of a statue of horses.
Alonso has yet to directly address the situation.
It’s difficult to know everything that goes on inside the Olympic Village, which spans parts of three cities — Saint-Denis, Saint Ouen and L’Île-Saint-Denis — and accommodates 14,250 athletes.
The rules in the Olympic Village also differ depending on the host country — and teams can follow their own guidelines.
Athletes are also required to uphold social media guidelines at the Paris Olympics.
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“Athletes staying in the Olympic Village are also required to respect the protected atmosphere and privacy of the Olympic Village and are not allowed to report on the activities of other residents, unless they have obtained such other persons’ consent beforehand,” the 2024 Paris Games guidelines state.
“Please note that it is forbidden to take photos or to record audio or video in restricted areas, including but not limited to the medical areas or doping control station.”
Athletes must reside with the team they’re representing at the Paris Games.
“We can’t share an apartment with another country,” Team USA’s Olympic Village Director Daniel Smith told People prior to the Summer Games.
Athletes can leave the Olympic Village to see their friends and family, who are not allowed entry into the Olympic Village.
There is an exception for nursing athletes, who are allowed to bring their infants into the Olympic Village.
Some teams also implement quiet hours in their Olympic Village residence halls.
“This is a distraction-free environment,” Smith emphasized repeatedly.
“[Athletes] can do as they please. It doesn’t mean they have to be in their rooms by 10:00 p.m. 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 and they’re ready to train or compete the following day.”
Team USA, specifically, follows a no-alcohol policy in the Olympic Village in order to respect athletes who are still competing in the latter half of the games.
Smith explained that things “get a little tricky” when some events, such as rugby, begin July 24 and conclude July 30.
“They still have another 12 days in the Village,” Smith said, adding that some may want to “go have fun” and celebrate after their event is finished.
“So we have to set some specific guidelines so that there’s just a general level of respect across the board. Everyone is in competition mode until the games finish on Aug. 12. So that is why we put those parameters in place.”
