# 150,000 condoms to be handed out at the Olympics **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850 "2012-07-20T13:52:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/41 "2012-07-21T18:55:43Z")
Sounds like a perfectly cromulent message to me. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/42 "2012-07-21T20:10:07Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > No, the message I was thinking of was something like this: > “We realize that you are young and horny..so please don’t get into any embarrassing situations. Now go out and screw like bunnies.” How about this message: “We realize that you are young and horny..so please don’t get into any embarrassing situations. Now go out and screw like \*\*\*smart safe \*\*\*bunnies.” Also you said bunnies! May NSFW: **Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me** [http://youtu.be/YwNVE37BGVE](http://youtu.be/YwNVE37BGVE) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/43 "2012-07-21T20:13:35Z")
By the way, I don’t think anyone said each athlete is going to be given 15 condoms. It’s an estimate: 150,000 condoms and a little more than 10,000 athletes. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/44 "2012-07-21T20:45:13Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > By the way, I don’t think anyone said each athlete is going to be given 15 condoms. I don’t think so either, actually, but the sub-headline of the OP’s linked article (which seems to be intended to titillate at least as much as to inform) does say “ **Athletes will receive 15 condoms each for the 17-day festival** ,” which does convey that impression. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/45 "2012-07-21T20:48:46Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s an estimate: 150,000 condoms and a little more than 10,000 athletes. Different sizes. Winston Churchill story 1: When visiting a “safe” zone in Europe during the Second World War, it was suggested to Churchill that condoms of at least 18 inches long would be the ideal solution to the problem of rain, sleet and snow getting into big-gun barrels. Churchill went for the idea on the condition that each box of condoms was labelled “Small” and that a few of these boxes packed with the condoms be left lying on the ground if and when the Germans moved into the area. Winston Churchill story 2: Churchill acquiesced to a plea that British condom makers manufacture them for Russian forces, on the condition that every box be labelled “Small.” Winston Churchill story 3 (just for the hell of it) > [@](#): > > One day, [**Mr Churchill**](http://artofmanliness.com/2009/09/30/motivational-posters-winston-churchill-edition-part-i/) came into the House of Commons men’s room to find Clement Atlee, the Labor Leader, at the first urinal. Church stormed off to the further one down the row do to his own business. “Feeling a little standoff-ish today, Winston?” > > “That’s right, Clement. Every time you see something big, you want to nationalize it.” ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/46 "2012-07-21T22:20:33Z")
How many Olympians contract an STD on average when they don’t hand out tons of condoms? I’m guessing this is a solution in search of a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/47 "2012-07-22T00:17:26Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Consider the following examples of Team GB: > > [Exhibit A](http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116%7C000058d37%7C4a2b_orh750w480_Jessica-Ennis-2.jpg) (for those who fancy the ladies) > > [Exhibit B](http://fabulousmag.co.uk/tag/tom-daley/) (for those who fancy the lads) > > I don’t know if those two in particular will be getting up to anything but there are a lot more hot athletes on their way to London right now. I hope Jess and Tom both win something. I confess to being very confused by the reaction of some in this thread. How on Earth can one have “qualms” about other people enjoying themselves? Actually, I can guess why. ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/48 "2012-07-22T00:35:26Z")
Why in heaven’s name would anyone care if a bunch of young people are having protected sex? In what universe is it anyone’s business but their own? Since the condoms are being distributed by the Olympic committee, which is an international body, and the games are happening in London, which is not America, why would this be an issue? ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/49 "2012-07-22T00:49:50Z")
> [@apollonia](#): > > Since the condoms are being distributed by the Olympic committee, which is an international body, and the games are happening in London, which is not America, why would this be an issue? Because Puritans are horrified that someone, somewhere, may be happy. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/50 "2012-07-22T02:03:15Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > They don’t. But the appearance that _everybody else is doing it_ might. If you’d have grown up in my family, you’d know that this kind of reasoning never flies. > [@Foggy](#): > > What? Are you going to tell me that you have never done this before?😛 Never. When you have your ear to a glass against the wall, you have to be very, very quiet… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/51 "2012-07-22T02:36:17Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Along those same lines, it wouldn’t bother me at all—I’d be all for it—if all those condoms were being made readily available on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. Maybe I was taking “handed out” too literally, although the OP’s linked article, saying “Athletes will receive 15 condoms each,” certainly encourages such an interpretation. My guess is that’s the way that the condoms will be made available; there will be a bowl in the common rooms throughout the Olympic Village. I very much doubt that they will include fifteen condoms in the gift bag provided to each athlete (assuming that they do hand out gift bags to each athlete). ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/52 "2012-07-22T12:54:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > In what way are “we” setting the example? They’re not encouraging the athletes to have sex, they’re providing condoms because they’re going to screw anyway. You take a few thousand young and very fit people in tight clothes, put them in close proximity to each other, leave them pretty much on their own when they are not competing, and what do you think is going to happen? [ESPN recently reported on this and it’s not new.](http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/story/_/id/8133052/athletes-spill-details-dirty-secrets-olympic-village-espn-magazine) > It’s a lurid and gossippy story becomes very surprising when you take a minute to think about it. See, that’s what I found unrealistic about The Hunger Games. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/53 "2012-07-22T16:05:51Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > My guess is that’s the way that the condoms will be made available; there will be a bowl in the common rooms throughout the Olympic Village. I very much doubt that they will include fifteen condoms in the gift bag provided to each athlete (assuming that they do hand out gift bags to each athlete). That’s what they’ve done in the past, according to some of my friends who are ex-Olympians. Sorta the way they are made available at college Health Centers. Funny aside: I knew the nurse in charge of keeping the bowl stocked when I was in graduate school. She said she’d take home a case of Trojans every month and her family would sit around watching TV and tearing the strips into individual condoms, which she would then take to school in a paper bag. Her husband would then place the box out by the trashcans for disposal. After a few months of this, he noticed the strangely respectful attitudes of his neighbors. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/54 "2012-07-22T18:07:50Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I tried that once, it turns out that pizza isn’t as good a prophylactic as they told me. Try ordering an anchovy with extra garlic. That will keep you from getting laid. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/55 "2012-07-23T00:20:35Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > No, the message I was thinking of was something like this: > “We realize that you are young and horny..so please don’t get into any embarrassing situations. Now go out and screw like bunnies.” Why is this a problem? Even if this was true, what is your exact problem with it? Do you really have an issue with a bunch of young people having safe sex or having sex at all? Are you upset that the existence of the condoms might make more people have sex than otherwise would have? I am not getting it. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/56 "2012-07-23T01:26:58Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Why is this a problem? Even if this was true, what is your exact problem with it? Do you really have an issue with a bunch of young people having safe sex or having sex at all? Are you upset that the existence of the condoms might make more people have sex than otherwise would have? I am not getting it. I think this may be related to someone’s idea of an olympic athlete. Is it some one like [Christian Cantwell (32)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Cantwell), or [Gabrielle Douglas (16)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_Douglas)? Just consider - in many jurisdictions, it would be illegal for Mr. Cantwell to have sex with Ms. Douglas (and it would be just creepy anywhere). While this is the most extreme example I could find (with minimal effort), it does demonstrate that athletes can have very different levels of experience and maturity. I admit, this does not speak directly to the condom issue, but I think it might illustrate the reason for the differences in opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/57 "2012-07-23T01:32:11Z")
Actualy, in London it would not necessarily be considered creepy for him to be having sex with her (it probably would be from her wikipedia photo but I took a look at more recent ones). Basically a 32 year old single man having a one night stand with a 16 year old woman, and I emphasise woman, which is what Gabrielle is from the looks of said photos… he would be getting slapped on the back, not punched in the face. Oh and it would be legal too. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/58 "2012-07-23T01:32:52Z")
The underage athletes will likely all be having sex with each other, if that makes anything better. The underage gymnastic athletes will likely all already know each other and will go at it when possible in London. As opposed to going and watching the gigantic bodybuilders and going to bed with them. So how 'bout that? A bunch of _underage_ Olympians will be having all sorts of sex! Take _that_ Puritans! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/59 "2012-07-23T01:33:54Z")
I hope they film it. I want some new athlete porn. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850/60 "2012-07-23T01:35:47Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > The underage athletes will likely all be having sex with each other, if that makes anything better. > > The underage gymnastic athletes will likely all already know each other and will go at it when possible in London. As opposed to going and watching the gigantic bodybuilders and going to bed with them. > > So how 'bout that? A bunch of _underage_ Olympians will be having all sorts of sex! Take _that_ Puritans! As I understand it, Olympians have to be sixteen. That means none of them would be underage, as the age of consent in the UK is sixteen, which is a very sensible age. There should be romeo and juliet exceptions to it of course but for the vast majority of cases it’s basically just right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-000-condoms-to-be-handed-out-at-the-olympics/628850.md?page=4)