Tokyo: Competitors at the Tokyo Olympics will be receiving a novel souvenir – condoms.
The Tokyo 2020 Games organizing committee said that it will be distributing 1.6 lakh condoms to athletes participating in the world’s biggest multi-discipline sporting extravaganza at Japan’s capital city from July 23 to August 8.
However, the condoms will be distributed during the departure of athletes. They will be advised not to use those condoms but take them back home as souvenirs.
The practice of distributing condoms to athletes has been continuing after it was started in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, to raise awareness against AIDS.
But this is the first time sportspersons have been advised not to use the condoms during their stay in Japan. According to Kyodo News, this change is in view of the COVID-19 situation.
“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,” IOC was quoted as saying by Tokyo Sports.
