Paris 2024: How condoms are more than ever part of the world's biggest sporting event

Extra-curriculars
29 condoms per athlete
A variety
Safety first
Treatment provided
“No need to be a gold medalist”
History
Running low on supplies
75% active
Not for everyone
Record-breaking
Extra-curriculars

By now, everyone who follows the Olympics will probably know that the athlete’s village becomes somewhat of a hookup spot during the Games. As such, organizers have decided to hand out nearly 300,000 condoms to provide some level of safety to the competitors.

29 condoms per athlete

Per Olympic Village director Laurent Michaud, there will be up to 300,000 condoms provided, meaning each athlete will have access to 29 condoms over the course of the Games.

A variety

Online publication PopSugar claims they received an email from a Paris 2024 spokesperson who said, “here will be 200,000 male condoms, 10,000 male condoms without latex, 20,000 female condoms, and 10,000 oral dams — all of which are accompanied with a lubricant pouch,” meaning there will be something for everyone…

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Safety first

Paris organizers have also made an extra effort to ensure athletes will be knowledgable about STIs, with the Olympics, “rolling out a campaign to raise awareness of the main STIs and their modes of transmission at the Polyclinique des Jeux,” per PopSugar.

Treatment provided

PopSugar continue, “There will also be screening tests, mainly for HIV, at the polyclinic, with treatment and medication available for these STIs if needed”.

“No need to be a gold medalist”

Canadian Olympic sailor Sarah Douglas shared a TikTok showcasing the Olympic branded contraception devices, saying, “No need to be a gold medalist to wear it,” and “On the field of love, play fair: ask for consent.”

History

Condoms have been distributed since Seoul 1988, with organizers concerned about the spread of HIV and Aids amongst athletes, while also promoting, “healthy behaviors,” per the International Olympic Committee.

Running low on supplies

Sydney 2000 saw athletes run through the 50,000 condoms that were pre-ordered, with organizers scrambling to order 20,000 more!

75% active

While most athletes in the Olympic Village are sexually active, up to 75% per US swimmer Ryan Lochte, for others, the condom allocation misconstrues what it’s like in the village.

Not for everyone

Team GB rower Zac Purchase said, “it is an absolutely huge allocation of condoms, But it is all so far from the truth of what it's like to be in there… We're talking about athletes who are focused on producing the best performance of their lives,” per The Guardian.

Record-breaking

Paris organizers have been relatively tame in their condom allocation, with Rio providing 450,000 prophylactics to athletes, which remains a record, per PopSugar. The COVID-delayed Tokyo Games had an intimacy ban in place, meaning condoms weren’t required.

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