1 lakh condoms for Commonwealth Games off the field

One lakh condoms. That’s what awaits athletes and officials from across the world at the luxurious Commonwealth Games Village during the showpiece event now six months away.

Taking a leaf out of Beijing and Melbourne, the Organising Committee (OC) in collaboration with the Delhi Health Department will provide free condoms at the reception area of the Village polyclinic open 24X7 to athletes and officials.

The final modalities are being worked out, a top OC source told HT.

“There will be around 8,000 residents at the Village. At a conservative count of one condom per person per day, we need at least 96,000 condoms for the whole 12 days,” said the official, who saw the same practice in Beijing and the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. “The condoms flew off the shelves after the first few days in Beijing. Athletes are used to availing of them after their events.”

Talks are on to rope in the Delhi AIDS Control Society to use the condom packs for AIDS awareness messages.

Wary of a possible controversy, the OC has kept its guard up on the matter. “Previous Games Villages have had condoms available and we’ll also provide them if residents ask for it,” said its spokesman Lalit Bhanot.