Athletes at Milano Cortina games seem to have embraced Valentine’s Day week with their trademark Olympic intensity, racing through their free condom supply to empty the dispensers before the big day itself.
About 10,000 prophylactics were distributed by organizers across the city and mountain accommodation sites, continuing a long-standing Olympic practice aimed at promoting safe relationships between mainly young, healthy and energetic competitors living in close quarters.
However, supplies ran out on Saturday, with just over a week of the sporting bonanza to go, adding Milan to a long list of Games where demand has far exceeded supply, an now almost routine Olympic subplot.
“This clearly shows that Valentine’s Day is in full swing in the village,” International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said at a news conference on Saturday. “Ten thousand have been used – 2,800 athletes – you can go out, as they say.”
“It’s rule 62 of the Olympic Charter that we must have a condom story. Faster, higher, stronger, together,” Adams joked.
Milano Cortina organizers later admitted that supplies had been depleted due to “higher than expected demand” but said they were working to replenish supplies.
“Additional supplies are being delivered and will be distributed to all villages between today and Monday,” they said in a statement.
“They will be continuously replenished until the end of the Games to ensure continued availability.”
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While athletes are given free condoms at every Games, the crowds in Milan have left even the athletes themselves bewildered.
“I just saw that this morning. I was shocked like everyone else,” said Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo.
Mialitiana Clerc, an alpine skier representing Madagascar, said there was nothing left in her accommodation.
“There were a lot of boxes at the entrance of every building we stayed in and every day everything was gone from the box,” Clerc said. “I already know that many people use condoms or give them to their friends outside the Olympics because it is a kind of gift for them.”
While medals remain the official currency of success, the empty dispensers offer a quieter sign that the social side of the Games is also flourishing.
