Look, but don't touch: Why athletes at the Tokyo Olympics were given condoms but prohibited from using them

OLYMPICS Look, but don't touch: Why athletes at the Tokyo Olympics were given condoms but prohibited from using them

Mark Kinyanjui 06:03 - 18.03.2024

Athletes were given upto 150,000 condoms at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but weren't allowed to use them.

In preparation for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, organizers have set aside approximately 300,000 condoms for the participating athletes. 

This is more than double the 160,000 condoms that were provided at the delayed Tokyo Olympic games, where social distancing orders and an intimacy ban were strictly enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In light of the lifted restrictions, organizers have created a "Village Club" to facilitate social interactions among athletes.

Traditionally, the Olympic Games serve as a platform for athletes to mingle and form connections, often resulting in close relationships. 

Since the 1980s, organizers have provided thousands of condoms to ensure the safety of athletes engaging in intimate activities. Specifically, Japanese organizers for the Tokyo Games distributed 160,000 condoms to athletes in the Olympic Village.

However, due to the pandemic, Tokyo organizers urged participants to refrain from engaging in any form of intimate physical activity outside their respective sports. 

Athletes were instructed to view the condoms as souvenirs and utilize them to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, rather than using them within the Olympic bubble.

Despite the lighthearted nature of the topic, the consequences for violating these rules were severe. Athletes at the games were  subject to strict coronavirus protocols, including social distancing guidelines and bans on physical contact such as handshakes and high-fives.

Violations of these regulations resulted in fines, disqualification, and even the loss of Olympic medals for repeat offenders. 

The enforcement of these rules underscored the seriousness of the situation, as the world grappled with the challenges posed by the pandemic.

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