Athletes outrace condom supply at Winter OlympicsPhoto: Freepik and the OlympicsCompetitors at the Winter Olympics in Italy became the subject of off-colour jokes after reports emerged that the 10,000 condoms supplied to the athletes’ village ran out in just three days. According to the Italian newspaper La Stampa, organisers distributed approximately 10,000 free condoms to competitors at the 25th Winter Games in Milan and Cortina. However, the supply proved insufficient to meet demand, prompting complaints from several athletes after the supply rapidly ran out. Notably, this year's Winter Olympics has the highest proportion of women athletes in its history, at 47% - a factor observers suggest may have contributed to increased demand for protective products. Although the Winter Games host fewer than 3,000 athletes, compared with more than 14,000 athletes and officials present in Paris, the smaller scale has not prevented supply pressures, making the issue one of the most talked-about stories beyond competition at this year’s Olympics.

Source: Bangkok Post February 15, 2026 13:52 UTC