Dating app Grindr has announced extra safety measures to protect LGBTQ+ athletes competing at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. In a post on its company blog, Grindr said the changes are aimed at reducing risks for athletes who may not be out or who come from countries hostile to queer people. The Games are set to make history, with at least 41 out LGBTQ+ athletes from 13 countries competing across nine events. The Grindr team wrote, “Someone outside the Village could browse profiles inside it.
Distance data could be used to pinpoint someone’s exact location. And simply appearing on Grindr tells the world something about a person’s identity that, in more than 60 countries, remains a criminal offence.” For the duration of the Games, the app will disable its ‘Explore and Roam’ feature within Olympic Village boundaries. The ‘Show Distance’ feature will also be automatically turned off for athletes inside the Village. Grindr will additionally offer free privacy tools, including disappearing messages, an unsend option, and screenshot blocking. The Winter Olympics begin Friday, February 6.
