The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Village ran out of 10,000 free condoms within three days, prompting urgent restocking by organizers.
Around 2,800 athletes stayed in the village, highlighting high demand for sexual health protection during the Games.
The International Olympic Committee has provided free condoms since 1988 to help prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Condom distribution is a standard public health measure at large international sporting events to support athlete safety.
Organizers confirmed continued condom availability to ensure ongoing access to preventive healthcare resources.
The athletes’ village at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics ran out of its initial supply of free condoms within three days, prompting organizers to restock and ensure continued access to sexual health protection for athletes. Reports confirmed that organizers initially provided about 10,000 condoms to approximately 2,800 athletes competing at the Games. The Milano Cortina Games are organized under the supervision of the International Olympic Committee and the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee.¹
Officials acknowledged that athletes quickly exhausted the supply, with the shortage becoming noticeable during Valentine’s week. Organizers subsequently replenished condom supplies and confirmed that distribution would continue throughout the duration of the Olympics to support athlete health and safety.
The Olympic Village houses thousands of athletes, coaches, and officials from across the world in a shared residential setting during the Games. The Winter Olympics athlete village provides accommodation and medical services for participants during the competition period. This environment increases close interpersonal interaction, which raises the importance of access to preventive health resources such as condoms.
Athletes reportedly used all 10,000 condoms within about 72 hours of distribution. This equates to fewer than four condoms per athlete, which is lower than allocations seen at previous Olympic events.
Milano Cortina 2026 provided significantly fewer condoms compared with recent Summer Olympics. For comparison, organizers distributed about 300,000 condoms to around 10,500 athletes during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Similarly, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics made approximately 160,000 condoms available to athletes.
The lower initial allocation at the Winter Games reflects the smaller number of participating athletes compared with Summer Olympics. However, the rapid depletion still required organizers to arrange additional supplies.
Olympic organizers have provided free condoms to athletes since the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Public health authorities introduced the initiative during the global HIV epidemic to promote safer sexual practices and reduce transmission of sexually transmitted infections. The International Olympic Committee supports condom distribution as part of athlete health and medical services during the Games.²
Since then, condom distribution has become a routine part of Olympic health services. Organizers typically provide condoms free of cost in athlete accommodation areas and medical facilities.
Condoms are an effective barrier method that reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Condoms also help prevent unintended pregnancies. They function by preventing direct contact and exchange of bodily fluids during sexual activity, which interrupts transmission of infectious organisms.
Athletes typically stay in the Olympic Village for several days to weeks, depending on their competition schedule. The residential setting allows athletes from different countries and disciplines to interact closely, increasing the importance of accessible preventive healthcare resources. Large international gatherings increase the importance of preventive health strategies to reduce transmission of infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infections.
Public health authorities consider condom distribution a practical and evidence based public health intervention to support athlete well being in such environments. Ensuring availability helps reduce preventable infections and aligns with broader athlete health protection strategies implemented at international sporting events.
Following reports of the shortage, Olympic officials confirmed that additional condoms had been delivered to the athletes’ village. Organizers emphasized that they remain committed to maintaining adequate supplies throughout the Games.
The International Olympic Committee and local organizing committees continue to include condom distribution as part of routine athlete medical and preventive care services. The program supports sexual health awareness and disease prevention during large scale international sporting events.
International Olympic Committee. “Milano Cortina 2026.” International Olympic Committee. Accessed February 2026. https://olympics.com/ioc/milano-cortina-2026
International Olympic Committee. “Medical and Scientific Commission.” International Olympic Committee. Accessed February 2026. https://olympics.com/ioc/medical-and-scientific-commission
(Rh/MSM)