When the 2016 Olympic Video games had been approaching, observe star Alysia Montaño wasn’t considering solely about what she needed to do to make Workforce USA—she additionally needed to contemplate the daunting logistics of getting her household in Rio.
Then a brand new mother to one-year-old daughter, Linnea, the six-time nationwide champion imagined the difficulties of staying within the Olympic Village away from her child and the problem of discovering secure areas to fulfill. On high of the pressures that got here with competing on the game’s greatest stage, there was additionally the added stress as a mom navigating every state of affairs off the observe, as Montaño tells SELF.
Now, athletes heading to Paris will have the ability to scratch one concern off the listing: For the first-time ever on the Video games, a nursery area can be supplied for athletes and their households on the Olympic Village.
In Might, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) and worldwide Olympic associate P&G introduced its model, Pampers, would help the brand new nursery enterprise. Inside, athletes and their youngsters will discover provides like diapers and wipes, areas to play collectively, and a non-public space for breastfeeding moms.
On the Video games, solely athletes and choose delegation members have in a single day entry to the residential areas of the Olympic Village, although family and friends can go to through the day with a visitor move. The brand new nursery follows consistent with these guidelines—it’ll be situated in a non-residential space of the Olympic Village Plaza and open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The nursery received’t present childcare, because it’s “meant to be a location to reunite competing mums and dads with their younger youngsters,” a consultant of the IOC press workplace tells SELF. Finally, the concept is to create a extra comfy expertise, particularly for folks and their infants, navigating the Village.
“The IOC and IOC Athletes’ Fee (AC) need to be sure that being pregnant and motherhood don’t imply a profession finish particularly for feminine athletes,” the IOC rep says. “The nursery varieties a part of an ongoing dedication from the IOC and IOC AC to make sure mum or dad athletes are cared for and supported on the Video games.” Whereas the group can’t give numbers but on what number of athletes will use the nursery, the rep did say they’ve been seeing “good curiosity” in it main as much as the Video games.
When Montaño heard concerning the nursery, she was thrilled concerning the progress it represented for feminine athletes.
“There have been so many hoops to assume by means of,” Montaño says. “[The nursery] takes among the considering out of it. Like, right here’s the place we’ll meet. It’s going to be secure, it’s going to be enjoyable. I can stroll from my room to a spot the place we may be collectively.”
Now a mom of three and soon-to-be upgraded Olympic bronze medalist, Montaño has devoted the subsequent chapter of her profession to breaking limitations for moms in sports activities and past. In 2020, she based &Mom, a nonprofit that gives lactation areas, free childcare, and maternal healthcare grants, amongst different types of help aimed to assist moms thrive in all facets of their lives.
Montaño mentioned she’s glad manufacturers like P&G are taking the initiative to fill within the gaps for mothers in sport, and he or she’d additionally prefer to see it as a kick-off level in creating extra equitable alternatives for folks to take part. Having ongoing discussions with athletes to be taught what extra is required could be begin.
“It is yet one more step in the best course,” Montaño mentioned. “Let’s preserve going.”
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