Breaking Barriers: How Parenthood Policies Are Transforming Elite Sports

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is introducing a nursery at the Olympics to support parent-athletes, allowing them to spend time with their young children. This move is part of a broader trend among sports organizations, including FIFA and various Australian sports, to support new mothers and pregnant athletes.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is making a groundbreaking move to support parent-athletes by introducing a nursery at the upcoming Olympics in Paris. This initiative, led by the IOC Athletes' Commission, includes private breastfeeding spaces, aiming to enable new parents to compete at their best.

Traditionally, children were banned from the athletes' village, where participants and coaches stay during the Olympics. However, this gesture represents a significant advancement in addressing the challenges faced by new mothers returning to sport. This follows FIFA's recent measures to support the wellbeing of players and coaches during pregnancy and after childbirth, as well as similar policies in various Australian sports.

While sports like AFLW, WNBL, and Cricket Australia have explicit guidelines for their players, other organizations are still developing clearer policies. The growing body of high-quality research can help in formulating more comprehensive postpartum return-to-play strategies to support the health and wellbeing of female athletes.

(With inputs from agencies.)