Behind the Scenes of Olympic Communications: Dealing with the “condom crisis”
When the “Condom crisis hits Milano Games on Valentine's Day” (Reuters), you have to brace yourself as an IOC communicator at the Olympic Games.
“The most engaging articles today come from leading media highlighting that the Olympic Villages ran out of free condoms only three days into the Games, with organisers assuring that new supplies are on the way,” observed our media monitoring team on the morning of this 14^(th) of February 2026 – Valentine’s Day. “The shortage of condoms at the Milan Olympic Village is also driving conversation on X with several trending posts relaying the story,” they continued.
And what do you do when the “Sex-Alarm!“ (German tabloid BILD) goes on? You roll up your sleeves and start investigating. Is it really true that the “winter athletes like it hot” (BILD)? Or is something else going on here?
But before you have found all the answers, you have to manage the daily press briefing with the global media. And here it is, the question of the day from a highly-experienced Olympic beat reporter, who has seen it time and time again over all these years: “Rule 62 of the Olympic Charter says there must and shall be a condom story.” Laughter breaks out in the press conference room, as there is, of course, no such rule. “Is it just a must have or a nice to have, did they just not order enough?”, he continues his question.
Light-hearted question, light-hearted answer from Mark Adams, our experienced spokesman: “All I would say is that it clearly shows that Valentine’s Day is in full swing in the village and I don’t think I can add much more to that.” (Laughter breaks out again)
First thought when we get back to the office: Groundhog Day again! Just like in so many editions of previous Games.
But let’s see and scan the web. One search and there it is: Olympic-branded condoms on resale platforms. Is this the big secret behind this condom crisis and all the ones before? They seem to work well as souvenirs.
This is confirmed a few days later by a story from Olympian Elizabeth Swaney, who competed at PyeongChang 2018. She writes on Buzzfeed: “With all the headlines about the thousands of condoms handed out at the Olympic Village, people always imagine it’s one giant, international dating app. In reality? Most athletes and coaches are laser-focused on their events. The Village is friendly, yes, but it’s not exactly spring break,” she notes.
On another morning a news alert comes up: “Winter Olympics condoms being sold for £90 online after shortage,“ writes Pink News. “The reason for the extraordinarily quick shortage may be down to people nabbing them as souvenirs or to sell them online.”
I am glad it is over before it really started. Or not: “They’re baa-aaack! Olympics condom supply restocked for horny athletes after 10K were snapped up in just 3 days.“ (New York Post)
Of course, it is Rule 62 of the Olympic Charter! – There must and shall be a condom story at the Olympics. Or two, or three, or more.
Safe sport, safe health, good stories.
