London 2012 - Coe: Baby rule an 'anomaly'

Fri, 27 Jan 09:00:00 2012

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe has said the rule preventing mothers from taking their babies into Olympic events is an "anomaly" and that organisers are looking into a solution.

London 2012 Olympic Stadium - 0

Objections have sprung up after women who bought tickets before they found out they were pregnant were told they would need another ticket in order to take their child into venues.

With many of the resale tickets being in the upper price bracket, even if these mothers can secure another ticket for elsewhere in the venue they will have to pay a large additional figure - even though the child would not need the seat.

Naturally many women are loath to leave a young baby in someone else's care, while those who breastfeed would simply be unable to part from them.

"It is an anomaly and we accept that," Coe told ITV programme Daybreak.

"We had a scheme for families called Pay Your Age, which allowed you to take a child and pay the age of the child, so if you had a seven-year-old child you'd pay £7.

"We've been on that page for a long time but as you quite rightly point out, there are people that have bought tickets that have subsequently had babies.

"We will look at that. We recognise that we want to be a family friendly organisation."

Organising committee LOCOG has said it will look at the issue again before April, when more tickets go on sale, while human rights group Liberty has offered its services to concerned mothers.

However the policy of everyone needing a ticket, no matter what their age, stands for now.

The furore began this month on forums featuring on websites such as mumsnet.com.

"I'm shocked by the conversation I just had with the London 2012 ticketing people," 'littlepinklizard' posted on that site.

"Our baby is due 2 June, so was enquiring about what I need to do about tickets for the new baby. They said everyone needs a ticket - fine. Children's tickets are £1 - fine.

"But there are no children's tickets for the horse jumping so I have to pay £95 to have a 3 month old in a sling. I said I was planning to bf (breastfeed) and couldn't go without the baby.

"They said the only alternative was to re-sell my ticket or give it to someone else."

At many sporting venues throughout the country, babies and toddlers can be admitted for free.

Jonathan Symcox - on Twitter @jonathansymcox / Eurosport

Comment 34 - 53 of 53

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  1. This thing is sucking up too much of taxpayers money.­ Hope it's a flop.

    From Tonto, on Sun 29 Jan 1:02AM

  2. It seems most parents these days expect the rest of us­ to shell out for their offspring. Now they expect us to­ buy Olympic tickets for their little brats too? Pay up­ or shut up.

    From Andrew, on Sat 28 Jan 7:41PM

  3. I have 2 small children and would never dream oftaking­ them to the Olympics and def not a baby the level of­ noise would be distressing for the baby alone let alone­ trying to get the baby to sleep or feed or change­ nappys and can you imagin all the bugs and vireses­ flying around it should be for children over 5 only­ like alot of things

    From flowerfarie, on Sat 28 Jan 10:38AM

  4. Well - they are definitely going to need the income­ !

    From Jonegy, on Sat 28 Jan 10:27AM

  5. I lost the note made of my "registration"­ password to buy tickets and could not remember it when­ the time came to buy them. I could not find any way to­ contact the Olympic site without the pass word .I found­ myself blocked at every attempt until it was much too­ late and tickets were all gone. I am an oledr citizen­ and i was a child when the Olimpics were last held in­ GB. I missed out then because I hav rheumatic feverand­ a long drawn out process of recovery. I had to learn to­ walk again no work passed on from school in those days,­ so I missed out on Education as well. I made a­ reasonable recovery on that front too. It would have­ been nice to see some of this Olympic Games, Now I have­ lost all interest in it and would not even attempt to­ go to ANY Other Event that insists on INTERNET Booking!

    From DAVID NOT the one running the Country!, on Sat 28 Jan 10:27AM

  6. would the commitee in question refund the money to a­ ticket holders family who has since died ? I think not.­ So why do they think that they can charge for a birth ?­ If an organisation sells tickets for any event so far­ in the future that no one can plan for things like­ death or birth then that organisation should have taken­ that into account at the outset .

    From filbe50, on Sat 28 Jan 9:43AM

  7. Totally agree with James (28). These parents of­ newborns have a choice, indulge themselves or look­ after their child. I hope they choose the latter. Not­ that confident though.

    From Pat, on Sat 28 Jan 8:56AM

  8. I've read all these comments with interest and­ found myself, in terms of common sense, coming out on­ the anti-baby-watching-olympic camp in spite of having­ children myself. I presume many of these mums­ complaining may not have not sprogged yet so they­ don't realise the full amount of work they'll­ have... and it is understandable to be desperate to go­ as it's a one time event. Also, the article says­ the Olympics have a family thing in place anyway, so­ it's just possible there is a special seating area­ for families and changing facilities... well it's­ possible but the organisers are goons!

    From jakabean, on Sat 28 Jan 8:30AM

  9. I agree babies and families are important, but the­ parents are the problem! They EXPECT more room for­ the huge buggy with cup holders, food storage and NOT­ collapsible. Also they EXPECT a seat for the poor­ mite! On public transport they are always a menace­ taking up space for about 3 people. So Olympic­ attendance rules are simple: - babies in stadium via­ harness only, must be in strict control of parent, on­ lap, no baby changing in public.
    Personally with all­ the people from other countries with fears already of­ epidemics of diseases thought to be extinct in Britain­ being imported, I wouldn't take my baby any where­ near the place.

    From james.blackman1, on Sat 28 Jan 6:58AM

  10. as much as i agree with the comments why wud u take a­ baby i have to say the whole ticket lottery is a­ shambles,this will be the biggest talking point of the­ olmypics and not for the good,to be honest tho i­ cud'nt care less about the london olympics as im up­ north in manchester,if they were for the whole country­ they wud be British olympics,ive still gopt to pay my­ share tho!!! ok,rant over!

    From truffie.bradley1, on Fri 27 Jan 11:31PM

  11. I love babies and children and always took mine out to­ experience the world but I have to agree with the­ comments that the Olympics is no place for a baby.­ Would you take them to a concert? There will be lots of­ sudden noises and no easy escape for changing­ facilities. People have spent a small fortune on­ tickets and will have enough problems viewing their­ chosen event without having to worry about a baby sat­ next to them. It really is quite selfish of any mum to­ want to take a baby as it certainly won't be fun­ for the little one, the mum or surrounding spectators

    From julie, on Fri 27 Jan 11:19PM

  12. Tough! Stay away, watch it on telly, tending to the­ baby ,when needed, tape what you miss. Leave the rest­ of us alone and more to the point, let the athlets get­ on with it..... it must be
    hard enough to concentrate­ without your bundle going off at the 'right'­ time. How selfish can one be to drag a
    baby to a venue­ like this.

    From Suellen, on Fri 27 Jan 10:41PM

  13. Surely there are cheaper, if not as effective ways, to­ get a child to sleep than watching the olympics?

    From Mervyn, on Fri 27 Jan 10:31PM

  14. i dont think under twos should pay for tickets, just­ like flights, but having said that, I would never take­ my 23 month old to any event like a sporting event,­ cinema, theatre, because I am wise enough to know­ exactly what is going to happen! i also believe the­ UK to be really lacking in good baby feeding/changing­ facilities, but that's another issue. i wonder if­ there will be any at the olympics?

    From Andrea H, on Fri 27 Jan 10:07PM

  15. please god it will be just my luck to have to sit next­ to a screaming baby.Please use some commons sense and­ just ban babies and toddlers for all of us who are­ paying massive amounts to be there.

    From toller, on Fri 27 Jan 9:36PM

  16. Whine, whine, whine....Oh poor me, I cant go to the­ horse jumping because I have a baby and they wont let­ me in. Stay at home and shut up. Leave some breast milk­ with the father and let him babysit. Just stop whining­ about every single thing. Society just sucks right now.

    From joshua m, on Fri 27 Jan 9:18PM

  17. Absolute waste of money; we are already up to our neck­ in debt in this country; though no doubt quite a few­ will make a packet out of it.The cost of policing will­ be phenomenal and that's only a start. Where are­ the brains of these people...... From A,in Ox

    From Ann, on Fri 27 Jan 9:03PM

  18. Why would a baby need to go to the Olympics?

    From ralphlawless, on Fri 27 Jan 9:03PM

  19. Anna.denny - sorry but most sane parents will agree­ that taking a baby to the Olympics is really NOT a good­ idea.

    From Kelly, on Fri 27 Jan 8:42PM

  20. whatever happened to dads...

    From Kelly, on Fri 27 Jan 8:38PM
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