Winter Olympic Record For Free Condoms Goes To PyeongChang 2018

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be distributing 110,000 condoms to the participants who are set to take part in the event starting next week.

According to a report by Korea Biomedical Review, the 110,000 condoms would be distributed among 2,925 athletes, which means about 37 condoms for each athlete.

The organizers of the event stated that the 2018 Winter Olympics would have the largest number of athletes participating when compared to previous years' events. They also added that with 110,000 condoms being distributed, this was also the largest number of condoms to be doled out during a winter Olympics event. A majority of it will be donated by a domestic company, Convenience, the report said.

A Convenience spokesperson said, “We are supplying Barunsengkak condoms for athletes attending the Winter Olympics with goodwill, and believe that Korea’s representative condom brand should donate for the event.”

“We hope to aid the athletes visiting from various countries to complete their events successfully and safely,” the spokesperson added.

The company also said it would donate nearly 100,000 Barunsengkak brand condoms worth 100 million South Korean won ($93,370). Barunsengkak condoms had the largest market share as of Nov. 2017 when compared to other condoms manufactured domestically, the company notified.

The remaining 10,000 condoms would be donated by the Korea Association for AIDS Prevention, the report said.

The condoms will be distributed in the houses at the Olympic Village — which was opened Thursday — where the athletes would be staying. They will be distributed in the stadium facilities also.

The organizing committee said they will give out 40,000 condoms in each athletic towns in Gangneung and PyeongChang. A total of 12,000 condoms would be given in the Main Press Center and the Media Village. The 18,000 remaining condoms would be divided among the 59 stadiums. They will be kept in “condom baskets” placed in the bathrooms, the organizers stated.

The first time when condoms were distributed at an Olympic event was in the 1988 Seoul Olympics where the athletes were given 8,500 condoms. However, the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics made a record for most number of condoms being distributed where 450,000 condoms were given to approximately 10,500 athletes. The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics also distributed nearly 100,000 condoms to the participating athletes, the report said.

During the PyeongChang event, each athlete would be getting around 37 condoms. According to a report by CNN, apart from engaging in sexual activities, the participants have other things to do as well. Fitness center, media center and a place for worship are some of the facilities which the participants usually enjoy. So, 37 condoms for a two-week event may be a few too many.

The 2018 winter Olympics will commence on Feb. 9 and go on for 17 days. During the event, a total of 2,925 athletes from 92 nations would fight for 306 medals in 15 sports events.