Paris 2024 Olympics: find out why, for the first time, a crèche will be open in the Olympic village

Une grande nouveauté pour ces Jeux. MAXPPP – Pierrick DELOBELLE

The Olympic village for the Paris Olympics (July 26-August 11) will include a crèche for the first time, as well as a space for the "mental health of athletes”, the International Committee announced on Wednesday Olympic.

The future nursery "will not provide childcare services", but "a play space conducive to the creation of family bonds", bookable "for a private or shared time slot, indicates the organization. “Many athletes have to reconcile their sporting career and their family,” underlined former Finnish hockey player Emma Terho, president of the IOC Athletes' Commission.

"I know how it feels, having competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics in as a mother of a young child". For her, "pregnancy and motherhood should not mean the end of a career for female athletes", a subject which are increasingly being taken up by sporting bodies – including Fifa, which recently extended maternity leave adopted in 2011 and advocated "more contacts" between players and their families during international tournaments.

A special team

In addition, the Olympic village located straddling Saint-Denis and Saint-Ouen will include a team in "a space allowing athletes and their entourage to & #39;listen to their emotions and prepare themselves psychologically, announces the IOC.

"No problem will be insignificant to the eyes" of this dedicated team, "whose members have been trained in athlete protection and mental health first aid", promises l" #39;organization, which will also offer "mindfulness activities" – breathing, visualization – to reduce anxiety and improve concentration.