Row erupts over baby tickets for 2012 Games

richard

Babies will be banned from this year's 2012 Olympic Games unless they have their own ticket - even if they were not conceived when their parents bought seats.

The 2012 organisers have said every child, including small or breastfeeding babies carried in their parents' arms, must have their own ticket or they will be excluded from the Games.

A press spokesman admitted the Olympic helpline had received calls from pregnant women and expectant fathers whose babies will just be a few weeks old when the Games commence.

They have been told they can try and buy an extra ticket for their chosen event, otherwise the infant will be prevented from entering the venue.

The issue has attracted fury on the Mumsnet website in the last few weeks, with parents saying they are being forced to pay full price for babies not yet born.

Some are doubting whether extra tickets will be available for the popular events they are attending.

One woman described it as the "biggest rip-off in the history of London" while others wondered what to do with babies they will be breastfeeding.

Another said: "The whole thing is ridiculous, there are people who bought tickets before their babies were even conceived - how are they supposed to know to buy a ticket for a child that doesn't exist yet?

"There should be more complaining about this policy. It's nuts."

Another woman described the policy as "bloody stupid".

She added: "The baby isn't taking up a seat, and if they're worried about fire regulations or whatever then it's not as if the baby isn't going to be with you at all times - essentially you should be counted as one person.

"The baby's not using the facilities on its own."

One "fuming" pregnant woman wrote: "I'm shocked by the conversation I just had with the London 2012 ticketing people.

"My husband and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the horse jumping in August. Our baby is due 2 June, so was inquiring 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 three-month-old in a sling!!!

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

Another accused the organisers of discrimination, saying women could not have been expected to bid on extra tickets in case they got pregnant.

"It is generally accepted that a new baby is an adjunct of its mother, especially if breastfeeding."

Another described the "anti-baby policy" as "completely unreasonable", adding it "clearly shows that mums were not involved in devising this policy.

"I attended several hockey games and opening ceremonies at the Vancouver games with a three-month-old (their policy was you could bring a 0-2-year-old, no problem).

"It was NOT a problem. As a rule, there were diaper changing facilities in all restrooms. And I had bought the tickets before the baby was even a sparkle in his mum's eyes."

Source
Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph

richard

This row over banning babies from attending the 2012 Games with their parents unless they have a valid ticket has been brewing on the Mumsnet website since early January and in my own humble opinion this is just going to get bigger and bigger unless someone from LOCOG realises that they need to act quickly to stem the potential riot.

I foresee soiled nappies being thrown at officials as they drive to the 2012 games in their reserved VIP lanes. Now wouldn't that be a sight for sore eyes

Anyone interested in reading the posts being made on Mumsnet visit Full price babies at the Olympics (full thread) | Mumsnet Discussion

richard

U-turn over charging women to take their babies to the 2012 Olympics as civil rights campaigners claim rule 'could breach their human rights'

Mothers could be allowed to take their babies to the Olympics after organisers signalled they would reverse a controversial policy effectively banning newborns.

Thousands of parents had complained about a rule stating that every child – including babes in arms – must have their own ticket.

With 16 months between the first wave of ticket sales in April last year and the start of the Games, many ticket holders have welcomed additions to their families.

But they were told they would not be able to simply bring their babies along – even though the infant would not be using a seat.

Even if parents subsequently attempted to buy a ticket for their child, there would be little point as the seats would not be together.

Yesterday, however, Labour’s Olympics spokesman Tessa Jowell – who sits on the board of organisers Locog – pledged that the committee was ‘trying to find a solution’ to ensure families and mothers with new babies could still attend events.

The Olympic stadium in east London. A spokesman admitted the Olympics helpline had received calls from pregnant women and expectant fathers whose babies will just be a few weeks old when the Games commence

‘What seems to have happened is that mums have had babies since they bought their tickets and have been led to understand that they would have to buy a ticket for their little baby,’ she told BBC Radio 4’s World at One.

‘I talked to Locog about this. This is a problem that they intend to solve so that wherever it is conceivably possible, little babies will go to the Games with their mums. This is an expression of our determination that this is a real family Games.

‘They are on this problem now and looking to solve it now. They will be in touch with everybody who this might apply to as soon as they can be.’

Miss Jowell conceded it may not be possible to bring small children to all events. But she insisted that Locog was ‘focused on finding a solution’ to the problem immediately rather than in April, when a fresh wave of ticket sales begins.

The suggestion of a U-turn comes as the independent Equality and Human Rights Commission warned that new parents who wanted to take their babies to the Games could have a case for sex discrimination if they were prevented – because the rules were likely to affect more women than men.

Since news of the ticket policy emerged, many parents have told on social networking and parenting websites of their misery at being unable to attend events.

The problem particularly affects those who live outside London and the South East, where a visit could potentially involve an overnight trip, making childcare difficult.

One mother said: ‘I live in Shropshire and had planned to go with my two children and husband.

‘I have fallen pregnant since I bought the tickets but as I want to breast-feed – unless I can bring the baby we just won’t be able to go. It’s ridiculous.’

At Lord’s cricket matches, babies and toddlers under three go in for free, while Wimbledon recommends babies are not taken.

Children under five are allowed in without a ticket – but may not enter Centre Court or the other show courts.

At Twickenham Stadium, children under two do not require a ticket but must be securely strapped to an adult sitting in the lower tier of the stands.

Source
By Liz Thomas & Louise Eccles
Home | Mail Online

divingbrit

This was discussed at great length in another place :-) and those of us, who are working in the stadium, after the first initial thought , 'that can't be right' changed to 'thats right' can you imagine 240,000 people on the Olympic Park, trying to move around, find their seats, something to eat, , and then you have these huge 'buggy carriers' plus nappies, and then is it fair to bring babies into such a noisy large event.
As for MumsNet, least said the better !

richard

Ouch, divingbrit, I take it that you're not encumbered with a young one then?

Years ago when I was single, I met up with the lads for a night out on the town on Friday and Saturday nights, we generally chatted about 'blokish' things such as cars and pretty women, intertwined with ideas on how to make a million. Babies were practically invisible to me, and the funny thing is that I can't actually recollect ever hearing the wail of a baby in full war cry.

Fast forward a few years and my whole perception of life has changed, now when I talk about the latest Mclarren it's not about the F1 supercar, it's more likely to be the buggy, and though the antics of Tiff Needell thrashing the daylights out of the F1 around Goodwood race circuit was sensational at the time, I am now brought down to earth and back to reality by the sweet smell of nappies and a wailing baby who could possibly drown out the entire starting grid of a race track.

Having recently endured a gruelling flight from the UK to Australia and back again, I appreciate that although in an ideal world no babies would be on the flight, the realities are that we have no choice, we can't just leave the baby at home with a few tins of baby food. It's not pleasant - but neither is the 17 hours flight. And I did apologise in advance to nearby passengers - sorry!

So I completely understand why mums and dads are kicking up stink over the ticket allocations for London 2012.

The question is whether LOCOG want the bad press when the parents have tickets for one set of seats, and their baby is allocated a seat somewhere else? Who is going to explain that to social services?

To those parents whom have been lucky enough to buy tickets for the 2012 Olympics and get pregnant, are now in a very difficult situation if they are unable to place their babies in the hands of a trusted relative or friend, and it's not like there will be thousands of babies on the rampage, but for the few couples who succeeded in winning tickets and creating a new life, surely there should be some leeway to hold their baby like they do if they were flying abroad.

It's not like LOCOG aren't giving away thousands of prized tickets to politicians, officials, their families and all the other hangers-on who are taking advantage of free tickets, so surely they could see the benefits of the goodwill generated should they make amends. It's not like they are asking for additional seats!

And don't knock mumsnet.com too much, they do actually post some pretty good stuff for parents and babies.

divingbrit

A few points from the other side!

Its not the baby on its own that the problem, but is it wise to take a young baby into that sort of environment .
Its all the equipment that comes with the package, the HUGE buggy , piles of nappies , cuddly toys!
As far as the Air travel is concerned, Babies I can cope with, even if they cry with the change of air pressure, but its the little erks who spend five hours kicking the back of the seat,and when you protest , the mother says the little darlings are only playing, say 'now don't do that dear' and then pretend they don't notice when it begins again after less than a minute.
Don't get me going on Mumsnet, never been on their site, but the spokesperson they have speaking on behalf of all mothers (!) talk as if they have just discovered the right way to be a Mother, so how have we coped for the last two million years ago!