Milan’s Cortina Olympic Village ran out of free condoms after the 2,800 athletes attending the Winter Olympics used up the entire stock of 10,000 units provided by the organizers. The event coincided with Valentine’s week, which led to unexpectedly high demand.
The distribution of free condoms has been an Olympic Games tradition since 1988, designed to promote safe relationships and HIV/AIDS prevention among athletes in close proximity.
“Sure, this shows that Valentine’s Day is in full swing in the Olympic Village. Ten thousand were used. That’s 2,800 athletes, do the math, as they say.” said Mark Adams, the spokesman of the International Olympic Committee, in a press conference, according to The Independent.
Athletes were surprised at how quickly stocks ran out.
“I only saw this in the morning. I was shocked, like everyone else.” said Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo.
“There were many boxes at the entrance of every building where we stayed and every day, everything disappeared from the box. I already know that many people use the condoms or give them to their friends outside the Games because it’s a kind of gift for them”said Mialitiana Clerc, the alpine skier from Madagascar.
The distribution of free condoms is not a first. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, 150,000 condoms were provided, distributed to both athletes and accompanying teams.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the IOC provided 150,000 condoms but asked athletes not to use them due to strict protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
