Asked about not staying in the Olympic Village, U.S. star
Kevin Durant said, “I don’t think we had a choice,” adding, “I haven’t gotten into any (cardboard) beds since I’ve been doing this whole thing.”
The U.S. men’s and women’s basketball players are among a few athletes who do not stay in the village. Tennis star Novak Djokovic is not in the village. Roger Federer and Serena and Venus Williams also stayed elsewhere during the 2008 Beijing Games.
USA Track and Field would not confirm nor deny to USA TODAY Sports if its high-profile athletes, like
Noah Lyles and
Sha'Carri Richardson, are staying in the Olympic Village, citing security.
Durant, who is participating in his fourth Olympics, has spent time in the village at previous Games and will do so again this year.
“The last few times I've done the Olympics, we've spent our fair share in the Olympic Village and felt like a part of the group there,” Durant said. “We stay outside of it, but we get our time right before the opening ceremony. As we go to other sports as well, we get to walk through the village. So I think we get enough time there.”
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