Historic! Paris Olympic Village to Introduce Nursery For All Athletes For The First Time Ever – Here is Why It is Important

International Olympic Committee for the first time ever is set to introduce a nursery for alla thelets bringing in more inclusivity in the sports industry.

Women have often found it more challenging to find their footing in the sports industry, from facing gender inequality to unequal pay and less accessibility. However, things are taking a turn for the better. This time the Paris Olympic seems to be gearing up for a more inclusive format for its athletes. In the history of Olympics, it is for the first time ever that the International Olympics Committee (IOC) has decided to make special accommodations for breastfeeding and new mothers by making facilities’ like nursery more accessible.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games, supporting a nursery within the Olympic Village, which will provide a comfortable and convenient environment for athlete parents to spend time with their babies and young children during the Games. With support from P&G’s Pampers brand, the Olympic Village nursery will offer access to high quality nappies and wipes, while also providing a space for playtime and family bonding, ” a statement from the IOC read.

Paris Olympic to Feature Nursery For First Time Ever

In a bid to become more inclusive and accessible, the olympics and Paralympics authorities have made certain provisions. These nurseries will be located in the non-residential area in the Olympic Village Plaza, and open from 9 am to 9 pm everyday.

The French National Olympic and Sports Committee has als pledged to have breastfeeding rooms for their athletes as an endeavour to make it a safe space for their athletes to manage parenthood and chase their dreams at the sametime.

According to a report by the Washington Post, “French athletes with children of any age will also have access to a shared space to spend time together during the day. And during the Paralympic Games, athletes with babies under the age of 1 will receive “guest passes” to allow their babies into the Olympic Village twice a day so they can be breastfed. The same rule will apply for athletes with children up to 3 years old when the child has special needs or disabilities.”

“For athletes who are also juggling their role as parents, connecting with their babies in an accessible space like the nursery will be an amazing resource, providing valuable support to Olympic and Paralympic athletes during Games time, ” says Laura Kenny, Olympic cycling gold medallist, in IOC statement.

Why is This Significant?

Earlier, women athletes have voiced their ordeals of not being allowed equal opportunities and spaces to manage their motherhood and perform their best at the games.  Several sports personalities like Serena Williams have voiced their frustration over the idea how women’s sport does not always get equally valued, compensated or promoted in media during major events too.

Therefore, his change is being termed as “a shift in the culture” according to some. Olympic medalist and judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou once personally made an appeal to the French President Emmanuel Macron about bringing her daughter to the games and committing to final leg of her event too.

This approach sets precedence for the future sporting events across the world as a testmenta how motherhood, parenthood can coexist with top notch athletic performances as well. While the change in the industry is slow, but happening, however, is a long way to go.