The decision by the organizing committee of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics to provide free condoms to participating athletes has sparked strong opposition from parent groups in South Korea.
The National Parent Association released a statement Tuesday criticizing the move. “Distributing condoms at the Youth Olympics, which should be a platform for fostering healthy bodies and sound minds, is an act that undermines the spirit of the Olympics,” the statement read, as reported by The Korea Bizwire.
The association condemned the International Olympic Committee for its rationale, stating it is highly inappropriate to distribute condoms to youths, labeling the act as a poor excuse that caters to teenagers’ curiosity. They argued that if such practices continue, the Youth Olympics should be abolished.
The Winter Youth Olympics organizing committee had revealed that its medical team secured 3,000 condoms, distributing 2,500 in the Gangneung Wonju University Athletes’ Village and 500 in the medical room of the Jeongseon High1 Athletes’ Village, available for athletes as needed.
Condom distribution at athlete villages began with the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where 8,500 condoms were distributed to prevent the spread of AIDS following the first AIDS patient case in South Korea. The practice continued at subsequent Olympics and significantly increased during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where 450,000 condoms were distributed, partly as a measure against the Zika virus outbreak in South America, with several condom vending machines installed for this purpose, The Korea Bizwire's Lina Jang reported.
The IOC believes it is essential to offer condoms to Youth Olympic participants, who are in the peak of their sexual energy and curiosity. Similar initiatives were undertaken at the 2018 Buenos Aires Summer Youth Olympics and the 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympics.
