The 2024 Paris Olympics are just 16 days away! Even if you or your loved ones aren’t competing on the world’s biggest stage, it’s hard not to be excited about it, isn’t it? Athletes all around the world are putting in copious amounts of effort to blow the minds of the fans away. However, a new update has put a damper on the anticipation. Many parents, including athletes themselves, were excited to make their way to the French capital. But they soon realized their newborn babies might not be able to make the trip with them. That is, unless they had a ticket of their own! The stakes are high, hence the rules get more stringent too.

But wait! There’s more. For parents who will witness their children perform from the stands will now be sporting a heart rate monitor as well, courtesy of the NBC. We’ve all seen the joyful outbursts at the Trials already. Just like Fred Richard’s father when he had effortlessly won the all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials. And it looks like we might see more of that in Paris! These updates have caused quite a stir. However, amidst the chaos, 11-time Olympic champion Allyson Felix has come to the rescue with a novel idea! With great power comes great responsibility and Allyson Felix might just be the saving grace.

Allyson Felix is a genius mastermind with an altruistic spirit

She might be the most decorated sprinter in U.S history, but Allyson Felix dons multiple roles. “I can do other things,” despite retiring post the 2022 season, the 11-time Olympic medalist was already preparing for the next chapter in her life. As a mother of two, no one but the Olympian would understand the worry of not having your child right by your side. “I just knew how difficult it was to compete at the top level after I had my daughter, and some practical things were really hard,” Allyson Felix told CBS News.

As a part of the Athletes Commission of the IOC, Allyson Felix wanted to make sure she had their backs. “I really wanted to be that voice for athlete moms, and just take away one less thing for them to worry about in the pressure of competition.” Witnessing the hesitation around the new update, the retired sprinter teamed up with Pampers to create the first-ever nursery for the athletes. The best part? It will be situated at the Athletes Village. This will allow parents to nurse, play, bond with them, and be within arm’s reach of their babies. “Children and families are generally not allowed inside the Olympic Village. French Olympic organizers said ‘the village must remain a preserved place, where only athletes and staff coexist in a performance dynamic,’ – said The Washington Post. While this may spell doom, don’t worry as Felix has got all you moms covered.

Athletes will be able to visit their children anytime between 9am to 9pm, and will have access to shuttles to make this transition easier. Earlier, no one but athletes would be allowed to enter the village. Very reminiscent of a 5-star resort, there’s also a fully equipped space for breastfeeding, a play area and a diaper changing zone to boot. But with this recent development, the babies, and whoever is accompanying them, will be given a guest pass. “I think it really tells women that you can choose motherhood and also be at the top of your game and not have to miss a beat.” Having been through the same before, Felix is confident this is a step in the right direction. She alluded to her own experience as a mother and that must be how her idea developed.

But the 20-world championship medalist isn’t the only one stepping up! Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East and her husband, Andrew East, donated $250,000 to provide financial relief to parent athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics. While she wasn’t looking forward to competing at the French capital due to the update, she still wanted to do her part and help in any way that she could.

The lynchpin for this idea to grow was because babies will not be allowed inside the arena or the premises and the only way to catch some downtime for parents would be via the Athletes Village for mothers. The intersection of vacation and vocation within the premises sounds like a titillating idea and while we do doff our hats to her ingenuity, it comes after NBC’s foolhardy proposal.

NBC announces heart rate monitors for parents at the Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics will be nothing short of thrilling, as witnessed at the Trials leading up to it. Fans all around the world have enjoyed rewatching enthralling performances by their favorites. However, it’s the parents’ reactions that have now become a fan favorite. The stress and joy of being parents to an Olympic athlete is truly unmatched. But watching them cheering their children on is nothing short of endearing.

NBC has decided to put this to the test by giving out heart-rate monitors to the parents as they watch their children perform. Here’s the catch though, these reactions would then be broadcasted live for the world to watch! Their heart rate and anxiety levels will be monitored closely, mirroring that of their children. Could you imagine everyone seeing how anxious and restless you’re feeling instead of focusing on the athletes instead? It’s never been done before, that’s for sure!

As we inch closer to the upcoming Summer Games, many have been focusing on the updates rather than the Olympics itself. From having to purchase a separate ticket for their newborn babies, to now witnessing a parent’s heart rate live during the games. These changes make it seem like there is more to the Games than the competition itself. Will there be any more surprises coming our way? And how do you feel about them? Let us know in the comments below!