Winter Olympics Athletes’ Village Runs Out Of 10,000 Condom Packs In Just Three Days

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 16:26 IST

Organisers had initially stocked around 10,000 packs, but demand quickly exhausted supplies, prompting officials to arrange additional deliveries.

A rather unexpected logistical hiccup emerged at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, where free condoms distributed at the athletes’ village reportedly ran out within the first few days of competition. Organisers had initially stocked around 10,000 packs, but demand quickly exhausted supplies, prompting officials to arrange additional deliveries. The organising committee confirmed that fresh batches will be distributed throughout the remainder of the Games, though it has not specified an exact timeline for replenishment.

The shortage drew attention because condom distribution has long been a routine part of life inside Olympic villages, where thousands of athletes live in close quarters for several weeks.

How Did Supplies Run Out?

The athletes’ village serving the Milan-Cortina Games is located in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Designed as a temporary residential complex, it houses roughly 2,900 competitors in modular units with shared communal areas. According to organisers, just under 9,700 condoms were made available initially, with additional supplies offered upon request. However, demand outpaced expectations almost immediately. Officials acknowledged the shortfall and said they are working to ensure continued availability until the end of the Winter Olympics.

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Why Are Condoms Provided At Olympics?

Providing free contraceptives in Olympic villages is a long-standing public health measure aimed at promoting safe sex among athletes living together in a high-pressure, socially intense environment. The tradition dates back decades and has become an established, if occasionally headline-grabbing, aspect of the Games.

Distribution levels have varied significantly across editions. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, organisers made approximately 200,000 male condoms and 20,000 female condoms available for around 10,500 athletes. Some previous Summer Games have distributed as many as 300,000.

By comparison, Milan-Cortina’s initial allocation of 10,000 has stood out as markedly lower.

During the 2020 Summer Olympics- held in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic- organisers implemented strict distancing measures and discouraged intimacy within the village. Those restrictions have since been lifted and normal village operations have resumed.

News world Winter Olympics Athletes’ Village Runs Out Of 10,000 Condom Packs In Just Three Days

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