Tokyo Allows Breastfeeding Mothers at Olympics After Backlash

By: Greta Stuckey

In late June, just weeks before the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned athletes from bringing their families to the games due to COVID-19 restrictions. What the Olympic Committee forgot was that there were hundreds of female athletes set to compete in the games who were also breastfeeding mothers.

After receiving criticism from athletes and the public for their lack of consideration for breastfeeding mothers, the IOC changed their statement just days before the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo. Some Olympic mothers felt like they were in the dark as communication from the IOC was scattered and indirect.

“Still not sure what "when necessary" even means,” Alex Morgan said in a Tweet. “Is that determined by the mother or the IOC? We are Olympic mothers telling you, it is NECESSARY. I have not been contacted about being able to bring my daughter with me to Japan and we leave in 7 days.”

On June 30, the IOC updated their policies and claimed that Nursing mothers were allowed to bring their children to the Tokyo Olympics when necessary. The Committee did not clarify what they meant when saying “necessary,” but the decision was then under the discretion of the female athletes.

“We very much welcome the fact that so many mothers are able to continue to compete at the highest level, including at the Olympic Games,” the IOC said to ABC News. “We are very pleased to hear that the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee has found a special solution regarding the entry to Japan for mothers who are breastfeeding and their young children.”

Although the female athletes were allowed to bring their infants to the Games for breastfeeding purposes, they were not allowed to have their babies in the Olympic Village. The babies were expected to stay in an outside hotel with a caregiver which was challenging for many new mothers.

Olympic gravel cyclist Laura King with her daughter.

Before changing the policies, some Olympic-bound mothers were debating on whether to drop out from the Games. They were having to choose between their Olympic Dream or taking care of their newborn child. With many complaints and arguments in favor of female athletes, the IOC finally recognized that while COVID-19 was a serious issue, mothers needed their breastfeeding children with them at the games.

“It’s doing the athlete a disservice to not have something in place to support them and help them so that they can focus on one of the most important athletic performances of their life,” Olympic gravel cyclist Laura King told KIRO-FM.

In the end, the Olympic mothers were able to accomplish more than their athletic goals. They competed at the highest level of their sport with their babies nearby. When not competing, the mothers were caring for their babies as they cherished the special moments Tokyo had to offer.