MILAN — Condoms have been restocked in the Olympic Villages in Milano Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics after running out during the Games.
A spokesperson for the Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee and International Olympic Committee confirmed to USA TODAY Sports more were provided over the beginning of the week.
‘The IOC works closely with the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee to support the mental and physical health of athletes, including supporting sexual health services,’ the IOC said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. ‘The details of the provision are determined by the OCOG and the IOC believes that appropriate services are available for all athletes.’
The restocking of condoms comes after Italian outlet La Stampa initially reported there was a shortage at the villages less than a week after the Olympics officially began.
The IOC later confirmed the supply was depleted ‘due to higher-than-anticipated demand” and planned to ‘continuously replenished until the end of the Games to ensure continued availability.’
‘Shows that Valentine’s Day is in full swing in the village, and I don’t think I can add very much more to that,’ IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told reporters on Saturday, Feb. 14.
It’s been a decades-long practice to distribute free condoms to athletes in the Olympic villages, which has drawn public interest at every Games since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Initially, only 10,000 condoms were distributed for the athletes. It pales in comparison to the 300,000 condoms that were provided for the 2024 Paris Olympics, although there were thousands more athletes for the Summer Games.
‘I think 10,000 (condoms) have been used. So 2,800 athletes, you can go figure, as they say,’ Adams said.
Madagascar alpine skier Mialitiana Clerc said she had heard about the stories and wasn’t shocked because ‘I know that at the Winter Olympics a lot of people use condoms.’ However, she doesn’t believe they’re not just being used.
‘I saw it in (2022 Winter Olympics) Beijing as well. There were some boxes at the entrance of every building where we were staying, and everything was gone from them,’ Clerc said. ‘I already know a lot of people are using some condoms, or maybe taking them to give to their friends outside the Olympics. Maybe they are using them as gifts, just for fans.’
The Winter Olympics run through Sunday, Feb. 22 with the closing ceremonies taking place on that day.
This story was updated to change a video and add new information.