Free condoms provided for athletes at the Winter Olympics have run out in a record-breaking three days, according to Italian newspaper La Stampa.
An anonymous competitor told the publication: “The supplies ran out in just three days. They promised more would arrive, but who knows when.” The shortage has been blamed on the organisers, who reportedly allocated far fewer condoms than in previous Games. In Paris 2024, athletes were given 300,000 condoms—enough for two per athlete per day—but for this Winter Olympics, fewer than 10,000 were supplied.
With just under 3,000 athletes competing in the current Games, the numbers fell short compared to the 10,500 competitors in Paris.
Lombardy governor Attilio Fontana defended the practice, insisting it should not be a source of embarrassment. “Yes, we provide free condoms to athletes in the Olympic village,” he said on social media. “This is an established Olympic measure dating back to Seoul 1988, aimed at raising awareness of sexually transmitted disease prevention among athletes and young people.”
Fontana also highlighted a viral Instagram post from Spanish figure skater Olivia Smart, who shared a clip showing condoms stamped with the yellow Lombardy Region logo, saying, “I found them—they have everything you need.”
Meanwhile, athletes continue to enjoy other facilities in the Olympic village, including a large gym, table football, air hockey, a piano, and free drinks machines stocked with Coca-Cola and Innocent smoothies.
