A supply mix-up creates buzz inside the Olympic Village.
The Olympic Village at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina has run into an unexpected problem. The free condoms handed out to athletes are already gone.
Event organizers had planned to provide 300,000 condoms for athletes living in the village. That was the same number offered at the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, a report from Daily Mail said only 10,000 condoms were actually delivered to Italy.
Athletes used all of them within just three days.
One athlete told the Daily Mail, “The supplies sold out in just three days. They promised us more will arrive, but who knows when.” Organizers now say they expect another batch, though they have not shared a clear delivery date. Italian outlet La Stampa also reported on the shortage.
Tradition Meets Shortfall In Milan-Cortina Olympic
Olympic organizers have handed out free condoms since 1988. They paused the tradition only once, during the Tokyo 2020 Games, when COVID rules limited close contact.
This year’s Winter Games host fewer athletes than the Summer edition. Still, the Olympic Village holds about 1,400 beds. Most athletes stay there for the duration of the Games. The Canadian men’s hockey team chose to stay in a hotel instead, but nearly everyone else lives in close quarters for weeks.
That setting often leads to high demand for the free supplies. In Paris in 2024, organizers distributed 300,000 condoms without issue. This time, the large gap between the promised number and the delivered amount left many surprised.
The Closing Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, February 22. That means more than a week of competition still remains. The final day will include the women’s curling gold medal match, the men’s ice hockey final, the four-man bobsled event, and the women’s 50-kilometer cross-country ski race.
For now, athletes wait for the next shipment. Organizers face some awkward questions about planning and supply. The village still buzzes with competition and energy. But one small detail has grabbed headlines and sparked chatter far beyond the slopes and rinks.
With several days left in the Games, officials are now working quickly to restock before the Olympic flame goes out.
