The 2024 Paris Olympics has lifted the physical contact ban that was in place at the 2020 Tokyo Games due to COVID-19. Unlike before, athletes now have more freedom to interact. Condoms, a tradition since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, are being provided again to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
This year, the condoms at the Paris Olympics Village come with the red mascot, Phryge, on colorful packets with fun messages, along with important reminders for athletes to be respectful and careful.
A look at the condoms being distributed to athletes in the Olympic Village + corresponding messages #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/9U02XX6MDi
— Cass Anderson (@casspa) July 26, 2024
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The Olympics website reports that nearly 300,000 condoms were given to the 14,250 athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This total includes 200,000 male condoms, 20,000 female condoms, and 10,000 oral dams, all available in the Olympic Village.
The condoms, featuring the mascot Phryge, promote safe sex with fun slogans such as: “No need to be a gold medallist to wear it,” “Fair play, safe play, consent first,” and “Score a win: yes to consent, no to STDs.” Other packets say, “Don’t share more than victory. Protect yourself against STDs,” and “On the field of love, play fair. Ask for consent.”
While condoms are available at the Olympic Games, champagne is not served to athletes in the village. Laurent Michaud, the village director, told Sky News, “We aimed to create spaces where athletes feel enthusiastic and comfortable. There’s no champagne in the village, but they can enjoy it in Paris if they wish. We will have over 350 meters of buffet offering a variety of world foods, including French specialties. The menu will focus on meeting athletes’ nutritional needs to support their performance.”
The 2024 Paris Olympic Village is said to be the most expensive project, costing around €2 billion to build.
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