Olympic organizers will allow nursing mothers to bring their children to the Tokyo Olympics, reversing a previous decision that had left some athletes — like Canadian basketball star Kim Gaucher — in the unfortunate position of choosing between their children and their Olympic dreams.
This closes a loophole that was created when Tokyo organizers put strict restrictions on who can and can’t attend the Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Given that the Tokyo 2020 Games will take place during a pandemic, overall we must unfortunately decline to permit athletes’ family members or other companions to accompany them to the Games,” organizers said in an emailed statement provided to Reuters.
“However, after careful consideration of the unique situation facing athletes with nursing children, we are pleased to confirm that, when necessary, nursing children will be able to accompany athletes to Japan.”
The announcement is welcome news for athletes like Gaucher, who has been publicly advocating for a rule change so that she can compete while continuing to nurse her infant daughter Sophie. That included posting an emotional video on her Instagram account which went viral and put an international spotlight on the issue.
“It’s so hard to understand the logic when you see spectators are being allowed and media being allowed and sponsors that are going and you’re just asking, ‘Why, as a breastfeeding mother, cannot I have my child there?’” Gaucher said in a recent interview with Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.
“I’m not asking for my whole family to come out. I’m asking in 2021 to be a high-level athlete and a breastfeeding mom, so I just got frustrated and posted it.”
According to Reuters, the nursing children will be required to stay in approved hotels outside the Olympic Village, as that area is under strict restrictions during the pandemic.
