USA Basketball will live on a cruise ship instead of staying at Olympic Village

Team USA basketball is continuing its tradition of having alternate accommodation to the rest of the athletes at the Olympics, but this time it’s a little different. Instead of sleeping in dorms at the Olympic Village, both the men’s and women’s teams will have cruise ships moored just off the coast.

This isn’t a new revelation. In fact, the basketball teams haven’t used the Olympic Villages since 1988. Such is life when you’re paid millions of dollars and accustomed to certain comforts that mass housing doesn’t provide. The ship is reportedly being paid for by a “Multinational corporation,” which is reportedly computer network company Cisco, which sponsors both USA Basketball and the International Olympic Committee.

Despite this, officials want it to be known that USA Basketball remains in solidarity with the rest of the Olympic team.

“USA Basketball teams haven’t stayed in the Olympic Village since the 1988 teams did,” says the federation’s chief media officer, Craig Miller. He adds, “Our teams are extremely active in supporting their U.S. teammates.”

Will the separate dwelling give USA an edge? That remains to be seen. What we do know is that while the U.S. team gets to chill away from the hustle and bustle of Rio the Australian Olympic team are fixing shower curtains.

Seems like a pretty good deal if you’re lucky enough to play on Team USA.

h/t NPR