Athens, July 26 (Reuters): Athletes at next month’s Athens Olympics are expected to go for gold in the bedroom as well as on the field, with 130,000 free condoms being made available throughout the Games.

Condom manufacturer Durex has donated the prophylactics as well as 30,000 sachets of lubricant for the August 13-29 Olympics, “to smooth the performance of the world’s elite sports people in the arena and under the covers,” it said in a statement.

The condoms will be available to over 17,000 athletes and officials at the pharmacy of the athletes’ Olympic village. “The condoms will come in an individual pack, with an instruction leaflet in various languages,” said a spokeswoman for Durex Greece.

In the Sydney 2000 Games, each competing athlete was given 51 condoms on arrival at the Olympic Village, but another 20,000 had to be shipped in when supplies began to run low.

Rules for cops

Greek police, sometimes accused of heavy handed tactics, have been issued with a good policing guide on how to behave when the world’s eyes turn on Athens.

The handbook, brought out by the ombudsman body Citizen’s Counsel, gives practical advice on everything, from being familiar with the area in which they are stationed to knowing what to do when people ask questions in foreign languages.

“If the person requiring information exhibits rude behaviour, the officer must remain calm and act professionally, continuing to hold a courteous, respectful and patient attitude,” it noted.