On July 26, the 33rd Summer Olympic Games opened in Paris, France.
The athletes competed fiercely, the audience watched with great enthusiasm, and a round of carnival in competitive sports began.
At this moment, an Olympic news that had nothing to do with the event became a hot topic and instantly caused heated discussion: During the Paris Olympics, the organizers will provide up to 300,000 condoms for free in the Olympic Village!
Someone has calculated that from the opening to the closing of the event, each athlete can get two condoms every day!
The number is so huge that it is really astonishing.
Many people wonder why this is happening? Is it because Paris is the city of romance?
In fact, distributing condoms for free is nothing new, but an "old tradition" of the Olympics.
In 1983, AIDS began to spread around the world.
In 1988, representatives from around the world gathered in London to discuss the global impact of the disease and call for action.
Then, at the Seoul Olympics held in the same year, in order to prevent the spread of diseases, the organizers provided free condoms to athletes for the first time. A total of 8,500 condoms were distributed, which was approximately one condom per athlete.
Since then, distributing free condoms at major events has become a default practice, and the practice continues to this day.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics was the first time in history that there was a surplus.
By the fifth day of the 2012 London Olympics, all 150,000 free condoms had been used up.
The mayor of London at the time also responded, urging the athletes to "take it easy":
“Our motto is to inspire the next generation, not to create the next generation.”
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Brazil learned from experience and directly increased the number of condoms to 450,000.
Although the epidemic prevention rules for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics clearly require "prohibiting handshakes, hugs, kisses, etc.", Japan still prepared 150,000 condoms.
Not only are condoms in the Olympic Village consumed at an alarming rate, but there is often a shortage of condoms.
The largest group of people in the Olympic Village are athletes from various countries.
Are the athletes in the village really so brave?
Harvard University and Colorado State University have conducted research and analysis on this issue, and the results show that:
Athletes have higher blood oxygen saturation, more energy, and are more easily excited.
During the competition, athletes' bodies release a large amount of endorphins and sex hormones. Endorphins can make people feel happy, while sex hormones can make people more excited.
In addition to physiological reasons, psychological factors are also powerful "sexual" stimulants.
American health expert Stephen C. George once pointed out that people who exercise regularly tend to feel good about themselves and are satisfied with their bodies...
It can be seen that the organizer provides a large number of free condoms as a result of considering the actual situation and actual needs.
From the user's perspective, condoms are a kind of product that is full of ambiguity.
However, at the global level, condoms are given a higher mission in addition to their own uses.
The International Olympic Committee's medical guidelines position the practice of distributing free condoms as a "health education program" for athletes.
The organizing committee distributed tens of thousands of condoms, not to encourage athletes to use them in the Olympic Village.
Instead, we hope to use this as a medium to popularize and promote health knowledge to athletes from all countries.
Some of the athletes participating in the Olympics come from underdeveloped countries and regions where relevant education is relatively lacking. Distributing condoms can, to a certain extent, convey to them the awareness of safe sex.
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS), condoms have prevented an estimated 117 million HIV infections since 1990.
But this is not enough. UNAIDS' goal is that by 2025, 95% of people at risk of HIV infection will have access to and use condoms and other prevention methods.
The move to distribute free condoms at the Olympics coincides with what UNAIDS is working on.
It can be seen that free condoms at the Olympics have important public health significance.
In addition to the aforementioned, Olympic condoms have another magical identity that you will never guess: a limited edition souvenir!
Generally speaking, the items prepared by the host country for the athletes are carefully designed to showcase the national culture, and free, small condoms are no exception.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Japan printed Ukiyo-e on condoms. Although it was a bit weird, it also made everyone remember these unique Japanese art forms.
During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Canadian curling athlete Jill Officer posted on social media:
"Even harder to get than Bing Dwen Dwen are the official Winter Olympics condoms."
The condoms at the Paris Olympics also attracted attention:
Officially authentic, with special packaging and limited quantity, the value of Olympic condoms is rising rapidly.
Because of this, some people joked: Friendship comes first, competition comes second. If you can’t get medals or mascots, just take two condoms back and keep them.
Participating in the Olympics is not just about winning or taking home prize money.
It is also an opportunity to go out, an opportunity to see the world, an opportunity to grow and surpass oneself.
Hosting the Olympic Games is not as simple as providing venues and holding competitions.
It is also a display of culture, a transmission of values, and a way of influencing others through certain people.
When we talk about Olympic condoms with our besties and brothers, besides joking, we should not forget the deeper meaning behind it.
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