The Winter Olympics village at Milano Cortina reportedly faced a shortage of condoms despite distributing 10,000 free ones to athletes. The living quarters for Olympians have a reputation for steamy encounters, with numerous stories surfacing over the years.
In an effort to address potential issues, organizers provided free contraceptives. However, while 200,000 condoms were distributed at the Paris Summer Games in 2024, only 10,000 were handed out in Milano Cortina this year, which proved insufficient given the lower athlete count.
A confidential athlete disclosed to Italian newspaper La Stampa that the supplies were depleted within three days, leaving uncertainty about when additional stock would arrive. Additionally, so-called ‘anti-sex’ beds were introduced to deter off-camera activities, but it seems the slim cardboard design hasn’t been effective.
This isn’t the first instance of condoms running out at the Olympics. At Sydney 2000, organizers had to order 20,000 more after exhausting their initial 70,000 allocation. Preventing an STI outbreak is crucial, and athletes were reminded upon arrival to prioritize health and use caution.
A former Olympic gold medallist highlighted the village’s risqué environment, emphasizing that the prevalence of intimate interactions is well-known among athletes, officials, and the media. The distribution of condoms reflects an acknowledgment of this reality. The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, running from February 6-22, offers over 850 hours of live action on discovery+ via Prime Video.
Throughout the event, a £3.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription grants access to TNT Sports 2 for continuous Olympic coverage. Viewers can designate Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for expedited access to valued news content.