mercredi 27 juillet 2016

Why Is Brazil Handing Out So Many Condoms To Olympic Athletes In Rio?

2016 rio olympics see record number of condom distribution

Each athlete participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics will be given a supply of 42 condoms for the duration of the games.

While distribution of condoms in the village by the International Olympic Committee is not exactly new, the number of contraceptives in 2016 Rio Olympics is three times the total in previous events, according to Yahoo Sports.

This August, there are around 11,000 athletes from around the world who will be in Brazil for the summer games. Of course, that doesn’t count the around 6,000 coaches who will also be hanging around in the village.

The standing record for the number of condoms distributed in the Olympic village was in 2012 in London when about 150,000 contraceptives were handed out.

The first record of condom distribution was in Seoul in 1988, as cited by different publications. At that time, around 8,500 contraceptives were distributed. In 2000, Sydney’s initial 70,000 condoms were totally spent and organizers had to deliver 20,000 pieces more. By 2004, the number jumped to 130,000 courtesy of Durex.

Apparently, this would be the first time that 100,000 condoms will be made available to female athletes, along with “175,000 packets of lubricants.”

While described as Spartan in conditions, the Olympic village will put most houses in Rio to shame. Granted that most of the materials were recycled—from the beds to the wardrobe—each room nevertheless is equipped with air-conditioning unit.

The village, however, has swimming pools, tennis courts and bike lanes (a luxury in a very dense city like Rio) which CNN described as “downright five-star.” Aside from condoms, athletes of the 2016 Rio Olympics also have access to 24-hour cafeteria and a beauty salon if they wish to pamper themselves.

Paul Ramler, RSG events founder, told CNN, “The athletes are going to have everything they could possibly wish for during the Games. I’ve never seen anything like this during all my years at the Games.”

RSG events supplies furniture to the Olympic village since scoring the contract in 2000.

Olympic gold medal winner Zac Purchase told The Guardian that the amount of condoms being distributed in the 2016 Rio Olympics borders on the ridiculous.

“It is an absolutely huge allocation of condoms,” the retired athlete said. “But it is all so far from the truth of what it’s like to be in there. It’s not some sexualized cauldron of activity. We’re talking about athletes who are focused on producing the best performance of their lives.”

So, what’s the explanation for the spike in number of condoms this year?

While nobody is coming out to admit that the distribution of condoms at the 2016 Rio Olympics could be related to fears regarding the Zika virus, some news reports did not rule out this possibility. While the virus is not life-threatening to adults, pregnant women—especially during the early stages—are particularly vulnerable.

Babies born from mothers who contracted the Zika virus exhibit very small heads and slow development. In fact, the Australian contingent has been bringing their own condoms (in addition to the contraceptives being passed around in the 2016 Rio Olympics) just to be sure.

The fears are very real, of course. According to the advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Zika virus can be transmitted by a contaminated person to another through sex. And sex can be vaginal, anal, oral and even sharing of sex toys.

“Only people with sex partners who live in or traveled to an area with Zika are at risk for getting Zika through sex,” the advisory said. “Zika can be passed through sex, even if the person does not have symptoms at the time.”

[Image via pixabay.com]

Why Is Brazil Handing Out So Many Condoms To Olympic Athletes In Rio? is an article from: The Inquisitr News

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