Team USA has secret hotel to host LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and other basketball stars at Paris Olympics 2024 (image via USA Basketball/X)
The organizing committee of the Paris Olympics 2024 have constructed an Olympic village to cater to the more than 10000 athletes who will participate. The use of cardboard beds and rooms without air conditioning have helped them make the village greener. However, that will not work for Team USA Basketball and their superstar players.
It is not something that they can help. After all, the superstars making their way to represent the nation are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Jayson Tatum has just signed the largest basketball contract ever. When combining the contract worth of all players, it will be easily north of a billion. Heck, LeBron James alone is a billionaire. The likes of James, Stephen Curry and the other stars also tend to get the most attention wherever they go.
Therefore, as per Forbes, Team USA basketball spent $15 million on a secret hotel, just for them. A hotel which can cater to the entire men’s and women’s basketball teams, in both 5×5 and 3×3 formats. Along with the players, their families are provided accommodation. They can bring along their personal staff if needed.
Then all the personnel of Team USA Basketball, the NBA, WNBA, as well as the staff, both coaching and training. All of them are housed in that one hotel. Due to security reasons, the hotel is completely booked for them alone. As is the nutritional needs as well as the need for heavy security, everything is provided.
Team USA’s resources dwarf other US Olympic contingents
Team USA gets a portion of its income from the NBA. Therefore, their budgets are generally in good shape and can accommodate such expenses at every major tournament. On the other hand, the USA Fencing team has a budget of roughly $300,000. A considerably smaller share to cater to its 20 athletes.
But they can bring in more medals than what Team USA Basketball can do even if they win all their four tournaments. Just like fencing, several other American Olympics contingents are staying in the Olympic village.
Probably the day they have the budget to afford hotel rooms, they too can plough in the money to ensure their stars stay in top shape. But so far it seems USA Basketball is the only one to have an entire 700-800 room hotel at their disposal in the Paris Olympics 2024.
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