Reuters
The Olympic Rings monument is seen outside the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) headquarters near the National Stadium, the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games that have been postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Tokyo, Japan June 23, 2021 on the day to mark one month until the opening of the Olympic Games. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Reuters
The Olympic Rings monument is seen outside the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) headquarters near the National Stadium, the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games that have been postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Tokyo, Japan June 23, 2021 on the day to mark one month until the opening of the Olympic Games. REUTERS/Issei Kato
The 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games are almost upon us. With the premier sporting event set to kick off on July 23rd in the capital city of Japan, several restrictions have been put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athletes will be allowed to have limited interactions with media and fans. But one major concern relates to the athletes being allowed to meet their family members.?
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Due to the pandemic, the organizers stated that family members of the athletes will be barred from meeting them to ensure a safe bubble during the games.?
Getty
TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 25: People pass an advert for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on March 25, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. Following yesterdays announcement that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be postponed to 2021. This is being done due to the ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. IOC officials said they hope to confirm a new Olympics date as soon as possible. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
This raised concerns among certain athletes who have young children to take care of. Being forced to choose between competing at the games or taking care of their ward, athletes had complaints about the restrictions imposed.?
But as per a recent development, that will no longer be the case.?
Mothers to be allowed to bring their young children to Tokyo Olympic games
As per a report by Reuters, mothers will be allowed to bring their nursing children along with them to the games.
“Given that the Tokyo 2020 Games will take place during a pandemic, overall we must, unfortunately, decline to permit athletes’ family members or other companions to accompany them to the Games,”?organizers said in a mail to?Reuters.
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“However, after careful consideration of the unique situation facing athletes with nursing children, we are pleased to confirm that, when necessary, nursing children will be able to accompany athletes to Japan,”?it added.
The news comes as a sigh of relief to nursing mothers who were caught in a real fix. Athletes such as Canadian basketball player Kim Gaucher and American long-distance runner Aliphine Tuliamuk were among those who had raised concerns.?
The organizers of the 2021 Tokyo Games further stated that the children of the athletes can be accommodated at approved hotels.
This is being done because the residential zone of the Olympic Village is only to accommodate athletes and team officials amid COVID-19 concerns.
