One of the first “complaints” circulating in the Olympic villages of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is not related to the sports competitions, but to the lack of condoms distributed free of charge to athletes. According to reports, the first supplies have been used up before the Games are even halfway through, forcing organizers to promise new stock in the coming days.
In the Olympic village of Cortina d'Ampezzo, condoms with the logo of the five Olympic rings have run out in just a few days, immediately becoming the subject of memes and discussions on social networks. An anonymous athlete told Italian media that the stocks were exhausted within three days, while a new shipment is expected.
Distributing condoms is a common practice of the International Olympic Committee at summer and winter Games, as part of hygiene packages that also include other personal products. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, for example, over 300,000 were distributed.
The topic went viral after a video on social media by Spanish figure skater Olivia Smart, who showed on Instagram that she had found condoms and hygiene products personalized with the region's logo. The video was also shared by the president of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, who stressed that prevention and the health of athletes remain a priority.
Meanwhile, the organizers of Milano Cortina 2026 have promised that the full number of supplies will be made public at the end of the event.
