10,000 condoms gone in three days at Winter Olympics Village, athletes say 'they promised us more'

Approximately 10,000 free condoms had been made available to competitors at the start of the Games.

An unexpected logistical issue has emerged at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where organisers have reportedly exhausted the initial allocation of complimentary condoms distributed at the athletes’ village within the first few days of competition.

Approximately 10,000 free condoms had been made available to competitors at the start of the Games. According to a report by the Italian newspaper La Stampa, those supplies were depleted in just three days.

“The supplies ran out in just three days,” an anonymous athlete told the publication. “They promised us more will arrive, but who knows when.”

Organisers were reportedly unprepared for the level of demand and are now seeking to secure additional stock for the remainder of the event. A confirmed delivery schedule for replenishment has not been announced.

The report noted that the number distributed at these Winter Games was comparatively modest. “They were ‘particularly generous with the numbers’. In Paris the athletes received 300,000 condoms - two per day each - but the numbers for these Winter Games were significantly lower: not even 10,000,” La Stampa stated.

The provision of free condoms in Olympic villages is a longstanding practice. It was first introduced at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul as part of an initiative aimed at promoting awareness of sexually transmitted diseases among athletes and younger audiences.

Last week, the governor of Italy’s Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana, addressed the matter publicly. In a social media post, he wrote: “Yes, we provide free condoms to athletes in the Olympic village.”

He continued: “If this seems strange to some, they're unaware of the established Olympic practice. It began in Seoul 1988 to raise awareness among athletes and young people about sexually transmitted disease prevention - a topic that shouldn't cause embarrassment.”

Fontana also shared an Instagram post by Spanish figure skater Olivia Smart, who posted a video showing condoms branded with the yellow Lombardy Region logo.

“I found them,” she said in the clip, which subsequently gained widespread attention online. “They have everything you need.”

As discussion of the shortage spread across social media platforms, users responded with mixed reactions. One person wrote, “They can buy their own now. Still cheaper than raising that unexpected kid for 18 years.”

Another commented, “The way they're treating condoms like limited edition merch. Three days?” A third added, “Oh for God’s sake, bring your own condoms!”

The Olympic village in Cortina d’Ampezzo has been designed to accommodate athletes in a purpose-built temporary residential complex with capacity for approximately 1,400 beds. Delegations are housed in modular single-storey units connected to shared facilities by accessible walkways.

According to the official village website, the accommodation combines the “comfort of single-story housing” with the “unique charm of accommodations immersed in nature”.

In addition to residential facilities, the village provides a large gymnasium, table football and air hockey tables, and a piano for recreational use. Athletes also have access to complimentary drinks machines stocked with Coca-Cola and smoothies.