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May 24, 2024
Parental care can pose significant challenges to athletes’ careers, often impacting their ability to compete at the highest levels. In response, there is an increased effort to offer more accommodations and enhance inclusivity within the sports community, ensuring that athlete parents receive the support they need to excel both on and off the field.
In a historic move to offer more support to elite athlete parents, the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will feature a nursery facility within the Olympic Village. The nursery is made possible by Worldwide Olympic Partner Procter & Gamble (P&G), whose brand Pampers will lend its expertise to transform the Olympic nursery into a welcoming environment for the children and their parents.
Announced this month, the nursery is a positive step in the IOC’s commitment to support the diverse needs of Olympic and Paralympic competitors. It will provide a “comfortable and convenient” environment for athlete parents to spend quality time with their children while balancing their demanding training schedules. Much like in other areas of the workforce, athlete parents face unique challenges in balancing work and family life given their rigorous training, travel and competition schedules. The new facility will provide them with the opportunity to focus on the Games without the added stress of childcare logistics, offering children a safe and nurturing environment while their parents compete.
“The introduction of the Olympic Village nursery, a first in the Games’ history, highlights our dedication to inclusivity and athlete well-being, ensuring that athlete parents have the necessary support to compete at their best” said Anne-Sophie Voumard, Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, in the official release. “P&G’s efforts not only enhance the Games-time experience but also align with the IOC’s mission to promote a more inclusive and supportive environment for all participants.”
This sentiment was echoed by Emma Terho, Chair of the Athletes’ Commission of the IOC, who competed at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games as a parent of a young child. “Many athletes are balancing their sporting careers and family,” she said. “It is very helpful for both parents and infants to be able to spend time together, especially at such an important moment in an athlete’s sporting life. This nursery allows that to happen, while also allowing athletes to focus on the Games.”
The state-of-the-art facility will be located in a non-residential area of the Olympic Village Plaza and open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Throughout the Games, Pampers will offer diapers and wipes in the space, allowing athletes and their children to enjoy moments of playtime and family bonding.
The initiative is an important milestone for inclusivity and equality in sports. For example, the nursery facility is expected to significantly benefit women athletes, as pregnancy brings not only logistical challenges but also physical changes that can affect their participation in sports. Terho, a former ice hockey player, emphasized the positive impact such initiatives will have on athletes. “Pregnancy and motherhood don’t have to mean a career end for female athletes. I am very grateful for the strong support of P&G from the first day our Commission put forward the suggestion.”
Other athletes have voiced their support, expressing gratitude for the efforts to introduce a critical support system that allows them to compete without compromising their roles as parents. “I think that is something that is not spoken about enough – how do our bodies change as women in sports? What differences do we have? How could we put more research into understanding?” said two-time Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill. “We are slowly talking more and more about it, there are more athletes coming out and speaking openly about it, but I think it is a conversation that is really important and we should feel comfortable having it.”
As the nursery debuts at the Paris 2024 Games, it signifies a forward-thinking approach to athlete support, setting a benchmark for future events to foster an inclusive environment that recognizes and accommodates the diverse needs of athletes. This effort underscores the importance of evolving with the times, ensuring that all athletes can pursue their dreams without sacrificing their roles as parents.
Photo: P&G
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