A report from Italian newspaper La Stampa claims that free condoms provided to athletes at the Winter Olympics ran out within a record three days, raising questions about planning and athlete welfare services at the Games.
According to the report, an athlete—speaking anonymously—said supplies were exhausted quickly and that officials indicated more may arrive, though no clear timeline was given.
La Stampa suggested the numbers provided for these Winter Games were far lower than recent Olympic events, comparing it to the Paris Olympics, where the outlet claims athletes received a much larger supply. With just under 3,000 athletes participating at the Winter Olympics (compared to over 10,000 at the Paris Games), the report argues that overall distribution still appears limited.
Olympic organisers have not yet publicly confirmed the reported figures or explained the shortage.
Why it matters:
Free condom distribution has long been part of athlete health and safety planning at major international sporting events, supporting sexual health awareness and preventing STIs.
Written by: Anderson Keah | KEAH SPORTS