The 2026 Winter Olympics has hit an unexpected bump but it is not on the ski slopes. Organisers are scrambling to restock the athletes’ village after the entire supply of 10,000 free condoms was exhausted in just 72 hours.
The shortage came to light via the Italian newspaper La Stampa, which reported that the supply vanished at a “record-breaking” pace.
Athletes have expressed frustration over the lack of essentials during the high-pressure event. One anonymous competitor told the publication, “The suppliers ran out in just three days. They promised us more will arrive but who knows when.”
The crisis appears to be a result of underestimation. While the 2024 Paris Summer Games provided 300,000 condoms, roughly two per day for every athlete, organisers in Milan-Cortina provided fewer than 10,000 for the 3,000 competitors.
Critics noted that officials were “not particularly generous with the numbers,” failing to account for the social nature of the village.
Local officials have stepped in to normalise the situation and reduce any stigma.
Attilio Fontana, the governor of the Lombardy region, addressed the viral story on social media, stating, “Yes, we provide free condoms to athletes in the Olympic village. If this seems strange to some, they’re unaware of the established Olympic practice, a topic that shouldn’t cause embarrassment.”
Organisers have pledged that a fresh batch of supplies is on the way, but for now, the village remains in a state of “unprecedented” shortage.
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