New parents heading to the Paris Olympics are calling for a ticketing rule change after discover-ing that their infants will be refused entry to venues unless they have their own seats.
Margaux Giddings, a nurse from southwest France, bought her place for the gymnastics last year when they first went on sale and then fell pregnant, giving birth recently.
“I’m breastfeeding my daughter and she’ll be five months’ old at the time of the Games,” the 33-year-old from Bayonne told AFP. “It bothers me to leave her. I would have liked to take her with me in a sling or a baby carrier.”
The policy for the Games, which run from July 26-August 11, states that “all spectators will need a valid ticket to access an Olympic venue, including children of all ages”.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found out that as soon as a baby is born it needs its own seat,” said Tom Baker, a 37-year-old ticket holder from Lon-don who is expecting his first child with his wife Kate in May.
He contacted Paris 2024 and was informed over the chat service that he should think about buying tickets for the Paralympics instead, where reduced prices for children are available — unlike for the Olympics.—APP
