“I couldn't have borne being separated from my daughter…” Para-athlete Manon Genest and her little Juliette, whom she continues to breastfeed, can display a broad smile in the CNOSF offices.
The National Olympic and Paralympic Committees unveiled this Monday, February 26, the measures planned for the next Paris Olympics in terms of parenthood.
“We wanted to go beyond this issue of breastfeeding to allow all the mothers and fathers of the French delegation to participate in the competition in the best conditions,” explains Astrid Guyart, general secretary of the CNOSF.
This is a real social issue (raised for many months by media outlet Clarisse Agbégnénou) that we must take into account.
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🔵 EXCLUSIVE |
Breastfeeding, yoga and family cocoon: in the privacy of Clarisse Agbégnénou's return to traininghttps://t.co/YJSFQpwHSJ
— The Parisian |
sport (@leparisiensport) August 24, 2022
Its body surveyed the needs of future French participants in the Games.
124 have already shown interest.
Concretely, breastfeeding mothers will have the opportunity to stay near the Olympic village, in the future Pleyel hotel, which will open next May.
Staying there in double rooms with a companion will help them not to break the parent/child rhythm.
In this same establishment, a 100 m2 family area decorated in the colors of France will serve as a meeting place between athletes and their children, regardless of age.
The total cost of the measure, financed by the Olympic Committee and operational from July 18, is estimated at around 40,000 euros.
On the Paralympic side, the exceptional measures put in place will be slightly different.
In addition to an area already planned to meet loved ones inside the France club, children under one year old will be able to visit their competing parents using passes for the village between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. (this which is not possible for the Olympic Games due to too limited a number of passes, reserved for coaches and management).
“Make collective progress over time on these issues”
The age may be increased in the event of breastfeeding or disability.
There will also be the possibility for those who wish (and have children between 0 and 3 years old) to be accommodated outside the village in locations yet to be defined depending on the event sites.
“I am reassured and serene and I can prepare for my Games in good conditions,” breathes Manon Genest, while Juliette colors Paris 2024 stickers. Breastfeeding until the Games is a lifestyle choice, I need it and my daughter Also.
Even though she is almost two years old, she sometimes needs me to breastfeed her at night, as soon as she changes her environment a little.
This is why I asked to be “at the rear base”.
It's part of the performance.
If we know that our child feels good, we will perform even better.
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#ParaAthletics
🇫🇷🥉
Manon Genest wins the first French medal at the world para-athletics @GENESTManonTri
"Her goal is to pave the way for other athletes who would like to become mothers during their career"@WomenSports_fr @wpaparis23https://t .co/N25xcBNszX
— Rabatel Marie (@rabatel_marie) July 13, 2023
The idea is to offer an à la carte system, flexible, responsive and adaptable to everyone's parental obligations.
“Sometimes we think we won't need it but when we spend a week waiting in the village, we realize that it's long and that we miss our loved ones,” says Astrid Guyart, herself a former foil fencer.
We therefore offer a choice.
Not everyone will do it, but we make it possible.
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After the Games, the CNOSF and the CPSF will return with the athletes who have benefited from the system with a view to the next meetings in Los Angeles, Milan or Brisbane.
“We will discuss how to progress collectively over time on these issues,” summarizes Marie-Amélie Le Fur, president of the CPSF.
It is a duty to think this throughout an athlete's career in and out of competition.
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