"10,000 Stocked, But Already Gone?" This Freebie in the Milan Olympic Village Is in Hot Demand

A practice that began at the Seoul Games
450,000 distributed in Rio, 110,000 in Pyeongchang
Supply expanded in response to Zika, AIDS, and COVID-19

Free condoms provided in the athletes' village at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics were quickly used up in the early stages of the Games, once again drawing attention.

On the 11th (local time), British outlet The Sun and other foreign media reported that the organizing committee had distributed a total of 9,700 condoms, including both male and female condoms, throughout the Olympic Village. With about 2,900 athletes from 92 countries taking part in this edition of the Games, a significant portion of the supply is said to have run out early on.

Free condoms provided in the athletes' village at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics were quickly used up in the early stages of the Games, once again drawing attention. Screenshot from TikTok

An official from the organizing committee explained, "Providing free condoms in the Olympic Village during the Games is a long-standing preventive measure," adding, "Many athletes, after long periods of intensive training, abstinence, and strict self-discipline, tend to relax and regain their energy once their events are over." The official went on to say, "The purpose of distributing them is to encourage safe sex among athletes." Additional supplies will be provided if the current stock proves insufficient.

On the shelves in the village corridors, plastic containers labeled "Condoms" are placed alongside the Olympic mascot, and athletes are free to take yellow-wrapped products bearing the Olympic logo. Olivia Smart, a Spanish national team figure skater, drew attention by posting a TikTok video on her account showing where the condoms are placed.

Starting with the 1988 Seoul Games..."Concerns over AIDS spread were the turning point"

Condoms were first officially distributed at the Olympics at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At that time, 8,500 condoms were provided to athletes. Since then, condom distribution has continued as a routine at both the Summer and Winter Games. In particular, as global concerns over AIDS increased in the 1990s, the number of condoms distributed rose sharply. Because the Olympic Village is a place where young adult athletes from all over the world gather, preventive policies from a public health perspective were strengthened.

Condoms were first officially distributed at the Olympics at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At that time, 8,500 condoms were provided to athletes. Since then, condom distribution has continued as a routine at both the Summer and Winter Games. International Olympic Committee

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a record 450,000 condoms were distributed amid fears over the spread of the Zika virus. This remains the highest number ever for either the Summer or Winter Games. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, 110,000 condoms were provided, the largest quantity for a Winter Games. At the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, which were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 150,000 condoms were supplied. However, in line with quarantine guidelines at the time, the organizing committee drew attention by asking athletes to refrain from using them inside the Village while allowing them to take the condoms home as souvenirs. Subsequently, at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, 200,000 male condoms and 20,000 female condoms were provided for the roughly 10,500 athletes staying in the Village. The packaging carried phrases such as "Play fair in love and in sport" and "You don't need to be a gold medallist to use this," which also sparked interest.

Are 'Olympic condoms' souvenirs? Environmental concerns raised by some

Olympic condoms are regarded by some as more than simple hygiene products, functioning as a kind of "souvenir." Some athletes have kept the packaging bearing the Games logo or posted proof shots on social media, generating buzz.

Recently, environmental considerations have also been added to the discussion. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and local organizing committees are expanding the use of recycled materials for packaging and eco-friendly latex. As the Olympics are a large-scale international event, these steps reflect calls to consider both sustainability policies and public health policies at the same time. For the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Games as well, the organizing committee has allowed athletes to freely take condoms from each athletes' village and has announced plans to provide additional supplies if needed. If the Olympics are the stage where the world's top athletes compete, the Village is the space where the culture behind the scenes is revealed. Condom distribution has now taken root as another facet of the sporting festival.