1.6 lakh condoms to be given to athletes at Tokyo Olympics

The Tokyo Olympics is to take place this year from July 23 after being delayed for one year, which is about a month away. However, an interesting piece of news has come to the fore. 

While the organisers have tried their best to ensure the safety of the players, including warning players to not socialise, avoid handshakes and not hug, their time in Japan will be 'minimised to reduce the risk of infection.'

The Tokyo organisers have also said that they will hand out over 1,50,000 free condoms to the athletes. However, they will be given to the athletes on their departure and not during their stay.

Each of the participating 11,000 athletes from across the world will get around 14 condoms each.

The athletes will also be allowed to bring alcohol in the Olympic village, but they will be allowed to consume it only if they are in their rooms.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be distributing condoms as usual as they have been doing since the 1988 Seoul Olympics after the AIDS epidemic. However, instead of using them, they hope that they bring that back to their home countries as souvenirs.

"Our intent and goal is not for athletes to use the condoms at the Olympic Village, but to help with awareness by taking them back to their own countries,” the IOC said, as reported by Tokyo Sports.

In the guidelines issued in February, the athletes have been asked to maintain a distance of two metres from each other and also avoid physical contact from their fellow athletes including, handshakes and hugging. The athletes are also not permitted to leave the Olympic village and will be allowed only under special circumstances and the violations could lead to penalty.