Rio 2016 to offer 450,000 condoms to athletes

Around 450,000 pieces of condoms will be distributed to athletes during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a figure three times higher than the condoms distributed in London 2012.

An online portal, Insidethegames, on Monday said that the increase was partly due to 100,000 female condoms being made available for the first time, along with 350,000 condoms for men.

It said that about 175,000 packets of lubricant are also being supplied ahead of the event holding from Aug. 5 to Aug. 21.

The statement claims that the increase was not related to Zika, the health scare which has caused Rio 2016 organisers a major headache.

It said that the virus was most commonly transmitted by mosquitoes, but can also be transmitted sexually.

The portal quoted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as saying that the condoms would encourage 10,500 athletes and staff to practice safe sex.

It stated that the condoms would be distributed free at the athletes’ clinic in the Games Village, which opens on July 24, or from vending machines.

The statement recalled that Australia had earlier announced that its athletes would be given extra-protective condoms to guard them from Zika at Rio 2016.

According to the statement, some scientists have suggested that the Games should be postponed due to the health risk, while the World Health Organisation has advised pregnant women not to attend the event.