Why Kenyan Athletes Will Be Given 72 Condoms Each in Their Hotel Rooms When They Get To Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL –  A general view of the Olympic and Paralympic Village for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Barra da Tijuca. The Village will host up to 17,200 people amongst athletes and team officials during the Games and up to 6,000 during the Paralympic Games on July 22, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Getty Images)

Despite the damning doping claims that threatened the chances of Kenyan athletes participating in the Rio games, the country eventually escaped the ban and sent its team of athletes. While we anticipate trophies from the countrymen, they should as well expect a welcome with a record number of condoms allocated and air-conditioners in every bedroom, Rio’s athletes’ village starts welcoming Olympians on Sunday.

The new apartment towers built to house 11,000 athletes and 6,000 coaches during Rio’s Games are being called basic, even austere.

But when you step out on the balcony of one of the 3,604 apartments, the complex — with its swimming pools, tennis courts and bike lanes — looks downright five-star.

The rooms are furnished with single beds and wardrobes made of recycled materials, as well as air-conditioning units to allay fears over the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

Inside of the rooms where the athletes will be sleeping

Organisers describe the 31 17-story towers as a “city within a city” complete with a 24-hour cafeteria, beauty salon and florist.

The rooms themselves are furnished with the basics: metal beds, bedside tables and disposable wardrobes made with recycled fabric.

Ramler said the idea was to make the furniture sustainable but also inexpensive in keeping with Rio’s bid to provide low-budget Games. The complex was built with private money, and the developers are already looking for buyers post-Olympics.

The main entrance is heavily guarded and equipped with metal detectors. Unlike in recent Games, there are no TVs in the apartments. Organisers did finally agree to install air conditioners in the bedrooms to allay fears over the mosquito-borne Zika virus, despite the expected cool temperatures during the games, which fall during Rio’s winter. The opening ceremony is scheduled for August 5.

The apartments are equipped with 13,000 toilet seats, 275,000 clothes hangers and 18,500 beds that can be extended in length for taller athletes. The spartan bathrooms sport plastic shower curtains and a single oval mirror, but no drawers or cupboards to store the 450,000 condoms that will be distributed to athletes — equivalent to 42 per person.