Not every athlete coming to the 2010 Winter Olympics will win one of the 549 gold, silver or bronze medals. But every one hoping to score can get a handful of latex.
International Olympic Committee director of medical services Dr. Patrick Schamach said Thursday that 50,000 condoms would be distributed freely at the Vancouver and Whistler athletes’ villages as part of the “play safe” AIDS/HIV prevention campaign. About 5,000 athletes and officials are expected at Vancouver 2010.
Schamach, speaking at the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine convention, said 100,000 rubbers were given away during the Beijing Games, where there were 10,900 athletes and officials.
“Sport was not the only occupation of Games-time,” Schamach said.
Any athlete who is injured or ill during the Games will be treated at an Olympic village polyclinic, venue medical centre or Vancouver General Hospital, the Olympic family hospital. St. Paul’s is for spectator use. Schamach said the IOC’s policy is not to disrupt normal hospital operations.
A mobile surgical unit in Whistler will treat athletes who suffer life, limb or organ-threatening injuries. Spectator medical centres at venues will be staffed mostly by nurses and first aid attendants.
