On Valentine's Day, the organizers of the 2026 Winter Olympics announced that they would restock free condoms in the Olympic villages after supplies ran out earlier in the week, BTA reports.
The Italian organizing committee said the shortage was temporary and was due to higher-than-expected demand, with new supplies expected by Monday.
For comparison, 300,000 condoms were provided for over 10,500 athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. In Milan and Cortina, the initial quantities were significantly smaller.
International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams commented with a smile that about 10,000 pieces have already been used by approximately 2,800 athletes in the villages. "It clearly shows that Valentine's Day is in full swing," he noted.
The news of the shortages came shortly after the first days of the Games also saw the official mascots Milo and Tina run out of plush toys, which turned out to be more popular than expected in official stores.
Alpine skier Mialitiana Clerc said she was not surprised by the situation. She recalled that at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the boxes of condoms at the entrance to the buildings in the Olympic Village were emptied daily. According to her, many athletes take them not only for personal use, but also as a kind of souvenir for friends.
Organizers assured that there will be no new shortages until the closing ceremony on February 22. The committee emphasized that the stock will be regularly replenished until the end of the Games to ensure constant access.