During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 100,000 condoms were handed out to athletes in the Olympic Village, averaging 18 condoms per athlete. Sex education leaflets and videos in a variety of different languages were also distributed along with the condoms.Newslite.com: 100,000 Condoms... (August 12, 2008)
The first major effort at condom giveaways was during the 1992 Barcelona Games. The condoms were emblazoned with colorful Olympic rings.ESPN.com: Sex, Olympics Go Hand in Hand (August 11, 2004)
Although Olympic athletes are not supposed to speak with the press without a public relations representative and one must have the proper credential to gain entry to the athletes' village during any Olympics, stories about the athletes' sexual escapades have been reported by international publications.Times Online: Sex and the Olympic City (August 22, 2008)
Quotes
- "(It is) a two-week-long private party for thousands of hard-bodies."—Nelson Diebel, an American swimmer who won two gold medals in Barcelona 1992The Scotsman: Let the Games Begin (July 18, 2004)
- "When you have 10,000 people walking around who are amped up on their own glycogen you can almost see the sparks flying off their skin."—BJ Bedford, an American backstroke gold-medalist at Sydney 2004The Scotsman: Let the Games Begin (July 18, 2004)
Olympic Relationships
- 2000 Sydney Olympics: Roger Federer and Miroslava Vavrinec (originally from Slovakia) both competed in the tennis competitions for Switzerland. Mirka retired from professional tennis a year later due to a foot injury. Although they have not married, as of August 2008, they are still together.Times Online: Sex and the Olympic City (August 22, 2008)
- 2004 Athens Olympics: Matt Emmons (U.S.) and Katerina (Katy) Kurkova (Czech Republic) competed in the shooting events. Matt and Katy married in 2007.Times Online: Sex and the Olympic City (August 22, 2008)
- 1992 Barcelona Olympics: Derek Redmond and Sharron Davies competed for the United Kingdom, Sharron in swimming and Derek in track and field. The couple married in 1994 and had two children but divorced in 2000.Times Online: Sex and the Olympic City (August 22, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
The condom machines in the athlete's village had to be refilled every two hours during the 1992 Albertville Winter OlympicsThe Scotsman: Let the Games Begin (July 18, 2004)
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Fact:
The original order of 70,000 condoms went so fast during the Sydney Olympics, that organizers had to order 20,000 more. Even then, the supply was exhausted three days before the competition endedThe Scotsman: Let the Games Begin (July 18, 2004)
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Fact:
250,000 condoms were handed out during the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, despite objections by the city’s Mormon leadershipThe Scotsman: Let the Games Begin (July 18, 2004)
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Fact:
Durex was the official supplier of condoms and lubricants during the Athens Olympics. They provided 130,000 condoms and 30,000 tubes of lubricantESPN.com: Sex, Olympics Go Hand in Hand (August 11, 2004)
