The IOC said that the Paris 2024 Olympic Village will include facilities specifically designed for the families of participating athletes.

There will also be a special area dedicated to the mental health of athletes to provide them with the necessary support during their participation in the thirty-third modern Olympic Games.

These measures reflect the IOC's commitment to the overall wellbeing of athletes, including family aspects and mental health issues in the context of Olympic competition.

At the recent Tokyo 2021 Games, American gymnast Simone Biles brought mental health to the forefront of the sporting world and the IOC's agenda.

She suffered significant mental health issues during her competitions and withdrew from the team final. Biles was expected to win multiple gold medals but withdrew from five finals, saying she needed to focus on her mental health.

She admitted to sleeping a lot because it was "the closest I could get to death without hurting myself", and remarked after her balance beam routine, "It's a miracle I landed on my feet". Biles is a multiple Olympic and world champion, with 37 Olympic and world championship medals to her name.

The importance of an elite athlete like her speaking out about mental health during the Olympics has spurred action on the issue. Things seem to be changing for the Paris Games, at least in terms of infrastructure and support spaces.

While the facility "will not provide childcare services," it will offer "a play area that will help build family bonds," which is a step forward in supporting athletes' mental health and family well-being. According to the organisation, this can be used during individual or shared time slots.

"Many athletes have to juggle their sporting careers with family life," stressed Emma Terho, former ice hockey player from Finland and President of the IOC Athletes' Commission.

"I know what it's like, as I took part in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games as the mother of a child," added the 42-year-old executive.

"Pregnancy and motherhood should not be the end of an athlete's career," argued Terho, addressing an issue that has recently become a focus for international sports bodies.

The Olympic Village will also include "a space for athletes and their support networks to express their feelings and develop a psychological plan," the IOC announced. "No issue will be considered insignificant" for the members of this unit, added Terho, who competed in five Winter Olympics with the Finnish national team.