"Breastfeeding-Friendly Olympics" Daycare Center in Paris Olympic Village? [Paris Olympics]

First Childcare Space in Olympic History Established
Space Secured for 'Mom Athletes' to Breastfeed
Growing Calls for Change... Balancing Childcare and Sports

For the first time in Olympic history, a daycare center has been introduced in the 2024 Paris Olympic Village. This marks a departure from the past when childcare was strictly prohibited in the village, reflecting changing times by providing a space for athlete parents raising children. In particular, it is being recognized that an environment is gradually being established where mother athletes, who bear a significant share of childcare responsibilities, can actively participate in the Olympics.

The image of Canadian basketball player Kim Goshe and her daughter (Photo by Kim Goshe's SNS)

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The Paris Olympic Organizing Committee, in collaboration with global company P&G, operates a daycare center within the Olympic Village from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the Olympic and Paralympic periods. The daycare center is decorated with a floor designed like an athletics track lane to create an Olympic atmosphere and is equipped with various baby products and toys such as indoor bicycles. High-quality diapers and wet wipes are also provided. At the same time, the French Olympic Organizing Committee has created a breastfeeding space in a hotel near the Olympic Village in addition to the daycare center.

French national athletes can also stay with their children in hotels rather than the Olympic Village. Normally, children are not allowed inside the village, but during the Paralympic period, considering the athletes' mobility, a 'guest pass' is issued separately for children under one year old. Children of athletes with guest passes can enter the village twice a day.

This is the first time that a daycare center and breastfeeding spaces have been provided to accommodate athlete parents at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the 2024 Paris Olympics achieved gender parity with a 50-50 ratio of male to female athletes, marking a 'gender-equal Olympics.' Given the reality that childcare burdens still largely fall on women, these measures appear to have been taken to expand women's participation in sports.

Previously, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, the IOC prohibited athletes from being accompanied by family members, including children. This was to allow athletes and coaching staff to focus solely on competition and also took into account the pandemic situation.

However, Canadian basketball player Kim Gaucher, who was breastfeeding at the time, raised issues with the IOC when trying to bring her daughter Sophie to the Olympics. Over three months on social media, she advocated for the possibility of female athletes managing childcare simultaneously, gaining support from other female athletes. Ultimately, the IOC accepted the objection and took measures to allow athletes with childcare responsibilities to both care for their children and compete within the Olympic Village.

These measures reflect the efforts of veteran mother athletes who previously struggled balancing motherhood and competition at the Olympics. There has been a strong call for a shift in awareness that it is important to create an environment that prevents athletes from having to choose between pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, and sports, and allows them to maintain balance.

Emma Terho, chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission and a former Finnish hockey player, said in an interview on the Olympic website, "I competed in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics after having a child," adding, "I know how difficult it is to continue an athletic career after becoming a mother." She emphasized, "Pregnancy should not mark the end of an athlete’s career," and added, "The daycare center in the Olympic Village will be a good example to help athletes focus on the Olympics."

Former American sprinter Allison Felix (left in the photo) and her daughter (Photo source: her personal SNS)

Allyson Felix, a former American sprinter who won seven Olympic gold medals and currently serves as an IOC athlete representative, told CBS, "After having my daughter, I realized how difficult it is to compete at the highest level," and said, "After joining the IOC Athletes' Commission, I wanted to voice the concerns of mother athletes and help alleviate at least one worry amid the pressures of competition." She emphasized, "It’s about showing that women can be the best even after becoming mothers and that they don’t have to miss a moment."

Astrid Guyart, chair of the French Athletes' Commission and a former fencing athlete, said, "(The daycare center in the Olympic Village) is unprecedented and we hope it becomes a permanent fixture. It should not be a one-time event at the Paris Olympics."

Many mother athletes raising children are participating in this Olympics.

Clarisse Agbegnenou, a French national judo athlete who won gold in the women's 63kg category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, gave birth to her daughter in June 2022. After giving birth, she brought her daughter to the World Championships held in Doha, Qatar, in May last year, breastfed her in the warm-up zone while preparing for competition, and was seen holding her daughter while waiting for the award ceremony, which attracted attention. In January this year, Agbegnenou met with French President Emmanuel Macron and requested, "I want to stay with my daughter in the Olympic Village and fully focus on the Olympic competition."

Meanwhile, Park In-bee, the 'Queen of Korean Golf' and an IOC athlete candidate, began her election campaign at the Paris Olympics as a mother pregnant with her second child. Park, who married professional golfer coach Nam Ki-hyeop in 2014, announced her pregnancy in 2022 and gave birth to her first daughter in April last year. She has not competed in tournaments since the AIG Women's Open in August 2022. However, she plans to visit various Olympic venues to meet athletes and promote herself as a working mom and national representative athlete during her campaign for the athlete representative position.