MILAN — TheInternational Olympic Committeeaddressed the condom shortage in theOlympic Villagesin Milano Cortina, promising to restock the supply as the Games continue.
"Shows that Valentine's Day is in full swing in the village, and I don't think I can add very much more to that," IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told reporters on Saturday, Feb. 14.
The comment comes afterItalian outlet La Stampareported there was a condom shortage at the villages less than a week after the2026 Winter Olympicsofficially began.
It's been a decades-long practice to distribute free condoms to athletes in the Olympic villages, which has drawn public interest at every Games since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Initially, only 10,000 condoms were distributed for the athletes. It pales in comparison to the 300,000 condoms that were provided for the 2024 Paris Olympics, although there were thousands more athletes for the Summer Games.
"I think 10,000 (condoms) have been used. So 2,800 athletes, you can go figure, as they say," Adams said.
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See how athletes live at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Village
The Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee later confirmed the supply was depleted "due to higher-than-anticipated demand." It had planned to deliver additional supplies at the beginning of the week and it would be "continuously replenished until the end of the Games to ensure continued availability."
USA TODAY Sports has reached out to the organizing committee for additional updates.
Madagascar alpine skier Mialitiana Clerc said she had heard about the stories and wasn't shocked because "I know that at the Winter Olympics a lot of people use condoms." However, she doesn't believe they're not just being used.
"I saw it in (2022 Winter Olympics) Beijing as well. There were some boxes at the entrance of every building where we were staying, and everything was gone from them," Clerc said. "I already know a lot of people are using some condoms, or maybe taking them to give to their friends outside the Olympics. Maybe they are using them as gifts, just for fans."
The Winter Olympics run through Sunday, Feb. 22 with the closing ceremonies taking place on that day.
This story was updated to change a video.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Olympians promised restocked condom supply after shortage
