Olympic athletes offered dating app

The 2024 Paris Olympics are not just a showcase of sporting excellence — they are also a gathering of the world’s most desirable singles.

The Olympic Village, and apparently online dating platforms, want to equip them with everything they need to make meaningful connections during this once-in-a-lifetime experience. In a statement, Dating.com announced that it is offering all participating athletes a free one-month subscription to the dating service, ensuring that their time in Paris will be memorable both on and off the field.

After a socially distanced and tightly regulated Tokyo 2020 Olympics that saw athletes confined to bubbles under strict pandemic protocols — including the infamous “sex ban” — this year’s Olympians are ready to make up for lost time.

With a subscription, athletes can register on the special Olympic portal Dating.com, where they can use the platform’s features, including an AI-powered tool that helps break the ice with potential partners.

The Unspoken Olympic Tradition

Dating and hooking up with athletes at the Olympics is nothing new. The Olympic Village has long been known for its lively social scene, with stories of athletes from different countries meeting up, partying and more.

At previous Games, organizers handed out free condoms to athletes, a tradition that continues in Paris, where an estimated 300,000 condoms were distributed PeopleThis number averages around 30 condoms per competitor.

The legend of Olympic associations is also supported by anecdotes, such as that of Olympic equestrian star Usain Bolt, who celebrated his victories with members of the Swedish handball team.

From Competition to Connection

At a gathering of some of the world’s most productive athletes, it’s understandable that there’ll be some cross-country mixing. Sabrina Bendory, a dating and relationship expert at Dating.com, said 71 percent of singles today were in a relationship with someone who lives in another country.

“The connections made at the Olympics will not stop when the Games are over,” she said. “We are still in the loneliness epidemic, and it is extremely important for athletes to feel their best in order to compete at their highest level. By offering a free subscription to Olympic athletes, Dating.com can enhance their experience and help them forge relationships that they can nurture at home long after the Games are over.”

Paris 2024 is a definite return to a more traditional Olympic experience, with athletes able to fully immerse themselves in the culture and social life of the host city. The “City of Love” certainly provides ample backdrop for the romance of the Olympic Village.

For athletes who have trained for years to reach this point, the opportunity to unwind and connect with peers from around the world is a reward in itself — and they certainly have the necessary tools.