Olympic mothers face limited child care and support at the Games

Many Olympic athletes who are mothers lack standard child-care and family spaces at the Games, and some rely on nonprofit grants or pay out of pocket to cover travel and care costs.

Many Olympic athletes who are mothers still face gaps in child-care and family support during the Games. Families were historically not allowed in Olympic Villages, and athletes who bring children often must arrange and pay for off-site housing and care. The 2024 Paris Games provided a nursery and a private breastfeeding space in the main village but not at every satellite site. The International Olympic Committee said the 2026 Winter Games will have no designated family space and no permanent breastfeeding facilities, and that a certain number of bookable spaces will be available in each Village. Key details: - At the 2024 Paris Olympics, a nursery and dedicated breastfeeding space existed in the main village, but satellite locations such as Marseille lacked those facilities, affecting athletes based there. - The International Olympic Committee confirmed there will be no designated family space at the 2026 Winter Games and no permanent breastfeeding facilities; bookable spaces will be offered instead. - Nonprofits and advocates, including For All Mothers+, provide grants and other support to help athletes cover family travel and child-care costs, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee directed national governing bodies in 2022 to include pregnancy and postpartum stipend and health coverage provisions. Summary: Access to on-site child-care and family-friendly spaces at the Olympics remains inconsistent, which has left many athlete mothers paying out of pocket or relying on grants. Some policy changes since 2022 have extended stipend and health coverage protections for athletes during pregnancy and postpartum, but consistent, standard facilities at the Games are not yet in place. Undetermined at this time.