IOC Allows Breastfeeding Olympians To Bring Babies To Tokyo Olympics

breastfeeding Olympians: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed nursing mothers to bring their babies to the Tokyo Olympics. The news comes after basketball player Kim Gaucher made a plea via social media to let her three-month-old daughter Sophie accompany her to the Games.

According to Gaucher, the IOC was forcing her to make a choice between skipping the Olympics and leaving her baby while she stays for 28 days in Tokyo for the games.

The Canadian athlete, who is breastfeeding her infant, has won in her quest as changes in policy allows her to bring her daughter to Tokyo.

The IOC issued a statement on Wednesday saying that they “very much welcome” that athletes who are mothers as well are “able to continue to compete at the highest level” along with the Olympic games.

The committee further mentioned that they are pleased to know that the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee has created a “special solution” for the mothers who are breastfeeding and their young children who will be entering Japan.

Previously, the International Olympic Committee had stated clearly that no family could travel to Tokyo due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, the 37-year-old player indicated that international media and sponsors may travel to Japan’s capital along with the huge number of Japanese spectators who will be present in the venue.

“Japanese fans are going to be in attendance, the arenas are going to be half full, but I will not have access to my daughter?” Gaucher questioned.

“We’ve tried appeals. Everyone says they’re on board, but nobody can do anything. Let’s see if we can make a difference. It’s 2021. Let’s make working moms normal,” she added.

The change policy which renewed after the concern was raised would also affect other athletes who have made the Olympic cut for this year. Besides Gaucher, U.S. soccer star Alex Morgan, who gave birth to her daughter Charlie in May 2020, has been able to travel with her baby to the Games.

In April, Morgan told the media that it was important “to allow mothers the option to have their kids with them while they compete. . . if a child is under 1 or 2, they might still be breastfeeding, so that’s a huge piece of it.”

Both athletes, Kim Gaucher and Alex Morgan will both be competing in their third Olympics in Tokyo.