In A First, Olympic Village Adds Nursery For Athletes With Children

The 2024 Paris Olympics are poised to set a new standard for inclusivity and support for athletes with young children, particularly mothers. For the first time in Olympic history, the Olympic Village will feature a nursery, and special accommodations are being made for breastfeeding mothers. This progressive shift aligns with Paris's broader goals of achieving gender equality and reducing carbon emissions.

The Nursery: A Game-Changer for Competing Parents

A key feature of the upcoming Paris Olympics is the introduction of a nursery within the Olympic Village. This facility will allow athlete-parents to spend more time with their babies amidst their demanding training and competition schedules. The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) has also committed to providing hotel rooms for French athletes who need to breastfeed, highlighting a comprehensive approach to accommodating parenthood during the Games.

Meeting the Needs of Modern Athletes

Astrid Guyart, general secretary of the CNOSF, emphasised that these measures are crucial for promoting women's participation in sports and adapting to societal changes. "Society is changing, and this meets our athletes’ needs," she told Le Monde. This sentiment was also shared by American track and field star Allyson Felix, who described the nursery as a significant cultural shift, affirming that women can pursue motherhood and maintain peak athletic performance simultaneously.

Ongoing Challenges and Progress

Despite these advancements, female athletes, especially mothers, continue to face obstacles such as unequal pay and lower visibility. Progress has been slow, as evidenced by the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) initial ban on family members, including nursing children, at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics due to pandemic restrictions. The policy was later reversed following a vocal outcry from female athletes, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equal treatment.

Individual athletes have played a crucial role in advocating for family-friendly policies at the Paris Olympics. Olympic medalist and judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou personally appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron to allow her daughter to stay with her in the Olympic Village. 

Enhanced Support for Athlete-Moms

The Paris 2024 Games will feature several new policies to support athlete-moms. A nursery will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Olympic Village Plaza, accessible to parents and their caregivers. Additionally, French athletes will have access to a dedicated breastfeeding space at a nearby hotel, and those with children can use shared spaces during the day. During the Paralympic Games, special passes will allow babies under one year and children with special needs up to three years old to enter the Olympic Village twice daily for breastfeeding.

On Building an Inclusive Future

Canadian basketball player Kim Gaucher praised the French Olympic Committee's efforts, calling for such support to become the norm. Allyson Felix has also partnered with Pampers to ensure athletes have access to quality nappies and wipes, and a space for family bonding at the nursery. Felix highlighted the practical challenges she faced as a competing mother, representing the significance of these new measures.

The Paris 2024 Olympics mark a significant step towards greater equality and inclusion for athlete-moms. By providing essential support and facilities, the Games are setting a precedent that could inspire future Olympic events to follow suit, ensuring that motherhood and elite athletic performance can coexist comfortably.