Paris Olympics Ends Intimacy Ban, Supplying 300K Condoms For Athletes
For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, an intimacy ban was in place. This year’s 2024 Paris Olympics had had the intimacy ban lifted. The Olympic Village director Laurent Michaud revealed in…
For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, an intimacy ban was in place. This year's 2024 Paris Olympics had had the intimacy ban lifted. The Olympic Village director Laurent Michaud revealed in an interview with Sky News that the 2024 Paris Olympics will have 300,000 condoms available for the 14,250 athletes staying in their quarters.
PEOPLE reported that condoms were handed out during the 2020 Tokyo Games. But officials placed an intimacy ban on athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Athletes were asked to limit their physical contact with each other, including sex, and keep a distance of six and a half feet apart from others to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The distribution of condoms is a tradition for the Olympics. CBS Sports reported that since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, organizers have handed out contraceptives to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS. Even during the 2020 games, 150,000 condoms were handed out they said. "The distribution of condoms is not for use at the athletes' village, but to have athletes take them back to their home countries to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS," Olympic organizers told Reuters at the time.
Intimacy is Allowed Again but No Champagne in The Village
Michaud told Sky News that champagne is not allowed in the village, but athletes can have all the champagne they want in Paris. But don’t worry, the athletes will be eating well in the village. "We will have more than 350 meters of buffet with the world food... and I'm sure that the athletes will be very happy to have some French specialties made over here," Michaud told the outlet.
2024 Paris Olympics: The Olympic Village, "A Home Away from Home."
The Olympic village will be located about 4 miles north of the city's center, providing athletes and staff a convenient place to stay and socialize during the games.
The 2024 Paris Games will run from July 26 to Aug. 11.
Winter Olympics 2022: Best and Worst Country Fashion Choices
The Winter Olympic Games in Beijing started two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, but the event is the official start of the Olympics.
The biggest highlight is the "Parade of Nations" in which each country competing enters Olympic Stadium led by their nation's flag while also donning a special outfit. However, not every Olympic outfit is created equal.
For some fashion fun, here are some superlative fashion awards from the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
Honorable mention: The cute parade leaders
Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesEvery country in the "Parade of Nations" was led by one of these women wearing a dress that was simple, but so chic and elegant. Just lovely!
Boldest Outfit: Haiti
Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesAdmittedly, there is quite a lot going on with Haiti. It seems as though they had multiple ideas for the motif of their Opening Ceremony outfit, and they just decided, "Let's just do them all!" Either way, it paid off, and Haiti for sure stood out.
Surprisingly Boring: Japan
Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesJapan had the potential of incorporating some fun cultural elements into their Opening Ceremony outfit, but they just opted to wear a read coat with white pants. Definitely a disappointment.
Best Scarf/Hat Combo: Belarus
Matthias Hangst/Getty ImagesIf you're reading this, then you know accessories make the outfit. At first glance, Belarus' outfit was...well...just fine. However, their fun printed hat and scarf were just the right touches to elevate the whole getup.
Outstanding Achievement in Sweaters: Great Britain
Elsa/Getty ImagesGreat Britain has one of the coolest flags ever, so when there wasn’t a single Union Jack visible on their Summer Games outfit in 2021 in Tokyo, it was just a letdown. Super-glad they changed their tune and donned this sweater in 2022.
Most Shiny: American Samoa's Nathan Crumpton
David Ramos/Getty ImagesWith Tonga's Pita Taufatofua sitting out the 2022 Winter Olympics in order to focus on relief efforts related to COVID-19 and a recent volcano eruption and tsunami in the country, someone had to step up and literally shine. Fortunately, American Samoa's Nathan Crumpton was more than game.
Coat That Looks Most Like A Quilt Your Nana Made: Czech Republic
David Ramos/Getty ImagesMost of us have some sort of quilt or blanket your Nana made that is equal parts kind of ugly, but you still just love it so much. That is basically the entire vibe of the Czech Republic's coat.
Best Cape: New Zealand flag bearers
Elsa/Getty ImagesNow, sure...the New Zealand flag bearers were the only capes in the "Parade of Nations," but with their furry exterior, they were super cute and likely super warm.
Most Sporty: United States
Julian Finney/Getty ImagesRalph Lauren has long been the designer of choice for Team USA. While the country’s 2021 Summer Olympic Games gear was a preppy country club nightmare that made us want to ralph, Team USA’s 2022 Winter Olympics duds were a significant improvement and make it look like the entire country is part of the Snowboarding Team. (And we mean that in a good way.)
Best Hat: Nigeria
The Winter Olympics are usually the home of toques and other beanies, but this traditional head wrap worn by Team Nigeria is just beautiful.
Patriotism, but Make it Fashion: France
Julian Finney/Getty ImagesIf you want to highlight your country’s flag tastefully, look no further than France’s 2022 Winter Olympics outfit that is somehow both bold and minimalist. C'est magnifique!
Best Overall: Mexico
Julian Finney/Getty ImagesTeam Mexico’s Opening Ceremony gear was the perfect marriage of style and culture. Their white coat was the perfect canvas for a calavera – the sugar skull best associated with the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday – which is also on the country’s beanie hats. Simply put: This outfit is a head-turner.
Worst Overall: Italy
Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesMamma mia! Where to begin with this EA7 Emporio Armani disaster? It just looks like a really hideous poncho. It’s just…so…bad! And to think it couldn’t get worse than Team Italy’s 2021 Summer Olympics outfit. (Just Google “Team Italy Pacman” if you need a reminder.)
