London 2012: Unofficial condoms spark Olympic village inquiry

Published Aug 7 2012, 21:32 BST  |  By Colin Daniels

London 2012 organisers have launched an inquiry after a bucket of unofficial condoms was found in the Olympic village.

Durex paid for the exclusive rights to supply 150,000 free condoms to the 10,800 athletes competing at the Games.



However, Australian BMX cyclist Caroline Buchanan tweeted a photograph of a container holding both Ansell and Pasante branded condoms, featuring the sign: "Kangaroo condoms, for the gland downunder."

"We will look into this and ask that they are not handed out to other athletes because Durex are our supplier," a Locog spokeswoman told The Guardian.

Spokespeople for both Ansell and Pasante insisted that they had nothing to do with their condoms appearing in the Olympic village.

A Durex spokeswoman said the company was "proud to be supplying free condoms for the Olympics Games" but declined to comment further.

Olympic organisers are known to tightly control which brands are promoted at the Games since companies pay millions of pounds to secure exclusive sponsorship deals.

Free condoms were first distributed to athletes at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, with the International Olympic Committee endorsing the move.

The number of condoms supplied for London 2012 tops the 100,000 given out in Beijing four years ago. In 2000, Sydney organisers had to order 20,000 more condoms after the initial allocation of 70,000 ran out.

> London 2012: US rower Henrik Rummel denies podium erection - picture
> Usain Bolt left baffled by "silly" rules at London 2012 Olympics

Watch Digital Spy's showbiz Olympics video below: