topic Re: Pros in the Olympics in Community Chat

Pros in the Olympics

madzonie — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:39:38 GMT

This may have been discussed previously, but I just had to get something off my chest.

I remember when the Olympics used to be so strict about no "pro" athletes competing in what is supposed to be the ultimte in amatuer sports. But slowly through the years, the powers in charge decided paid athletes would bring more interest....and more money....to the show.

Mix in TV and lucrative endorsements and commercials, over-the-top Hollywood-style opening ceremonies and we now have an event that no longer seems to showcase those dedicated and talented amatuer atheletes around the world.

One vivid recollection of this transition was when the so-called "dream team" pro basketball team went to Barcelona in 1992. They were cocky and self-assured and acted like they couldn't be beaten. I remember being a bit embarassed for our country at their behavior.

Another vivd memory of mine was when the amateur U.S. ice hockey team won gold at Lake Placid in the 1980 Winter Olympics. They were the "Do you believe in miracles?" team that was cherished because they won when they were said to have no chance.

Now there are professional golfers, soccer & basketball players, tennis champs and on and on...

This kind of makes me miss the old days.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

hopi — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:43:21 GMT

There is no such thing as an amateur athlete.

The athletes parents are either wealthy or the athlete is sponsered or the government helps.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

SXMGirl — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:45:39 GMT

I absolutely agree with you. I would like the Olympics to be comprised solely of those who are not paid sports professionals. We do not need NFL and NBA people competing against non-professionals. The games are interesting without them, and I have much more respect for those non-pros who compete. They put their hearts and souls into their chosen games and I applaud them.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

chickenbutt — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:47:59 GMT

ITA about professional athletes (those for whom performing their sports is how they make their living).

I wonder when and why this took a turn. It seems to be expanding. I remember first noticing it with basketball teams.

It was always so very specific for as long as I can remember that professional athletes were not qualified to compete in the Olympics.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

sweetee2 — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:57:20 GMT

I agree it isn't fare. Professional get all kinds of endorsements and money to higher the best trainers, best facilities, best of everything. It's not fare.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

deepwaterdotter — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:57:31 GMT

I hadn't thought about this, but you make a good point.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

dooBdoo — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:15:47 GMT

Here's an interesting commentary from 2012, and a bit of an explanation and pretty good insight, about the change to allow professionals to compete:

"What changed the Olympics forever"

link:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/22/opinion/greene-olympics-amateurs/

(eta: if you don't like to trust links, just search for "What changed the Olympics forever")

Re: Pros in the Olympics

momtochloe — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:08:26 GMT

For me, it's all about winning and greed. It's tough because I like to see athletes supported within the framework of Olympic rules but I think we all know those rules have been obliterated along with the true spirit of the Olympic games . . .

Re: Pros in the Olympics

kaydee50 — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:31:34 GMT

IMO all elilte athletes are professionals. College students get scholarship, i.e., paid to play for their school, sponsorships by private individuals, etc. etc. Money is always involved. No such thing as an "amateur" anymore.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

hckynut — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:44:04 GMT

While we were sending amateurs to the many Olympics in the past, Russia was sending teams that did nothing but train for their sport 12 months every year. I am talking their Red Army Hockey Team, and there basketball teams.

Anyone remember when the USA won a basket ball game, but?? Then they didn't. The Refs has a conference and allowed the Russian Team a couple free throws, I think! I remember they gave that game to the team from Russia.

Sure, amateur stars were great athletes, but the odds were so stacked against them. No athlete puts in all that training, knowing if it part of a team sport, your chances of winning were very slim. But the USA Hockey Team of Amateurs beat the Red Army Hockey Team, in 1980, and won the Gold.

My take on the past and present Olympic Games.

hckynut(john)

Re: Pros in the Olympics

Drythe — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:49:12 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
ITA about professional athletes (those for whom performing their sports is how they make their living).

I wonder when and why this took a turn. It seems to be expanding. I remember first noticing it with basketball teams.

It was always so very specific for as long as I can remember that professional athletes were not qualified to compete in the Olympics.

@chickenbutt

I think this finally came to a head when our college basketball players kept coming up against Russia's professional team. It was like David and Goliath.

Coach Dean Smith (a personal hero & a FINE person) was the last coach I remember coaching such a pro v/s college team. The USA won, but from then on it was pretty much pros.

It was of special interest to me because many of the basketball players came from my university. I loved seeing the non-pro players.

Sad, but no one is going to keep playing against such inequities..

Re: Pros in the Olympics

dooBdoo — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:59:18 GMT

Professionals in the Games

"The International Olympic Committee eliminated the necessity of amateurism in 1971, allowing athletes to receive compensation for time away from work during training and competition.

In addition, athletes were permitted to receive sponsorship from national organizations, sports organizations, and private businesses for the first time.

In 1986, professional athletes were given permission by the International Federation to compete in each sport of the Olympic Games.

For instance, in the 1992 Olympic Games, the United States was allowed to field a basketball team comprised of well-paid NBA stars, called 'The Dream Team.'"

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/olympic-athletes.html

Re: Pros in the Olympics

kjae — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:29:05 GMT

hckynut----You are exactly right. That is how this whole thing started. We were trying to level the plain field, so to speak. So those of you complaining would rather we send college kids and the other countries send professionals? How is that good competition? We are not going to ba able to change what the other countries do.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

sandraskates — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 01:57:10 GMT

Here's an example of what I don't like using figure skating as an example:

A skater wins an Olympic medal or two, then retires for 2- 3 years. About 1 year before the next Olympics, that skater decides to come out of *retirement* and compete in their country's qualifying competitions in order to go to the Olympics.

This now bumps out a younger skater who has also dreamt all their life of going to the Olympics. I just don't think that is right. And with the passing of time, that former champion may not make the podium again anyway.

Rant over!

Re: Pros in the Olympics

sidsmom — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 04:42:13 GMT

@castlenv wrote:
IMO all elilte athletes are professionals. College students get scholarship, i.e., paid to play for their school, sponsorships by private individuals, etc. etc. Money is always involved. No such thing as an "amateur" anymore.

ITA.

That's exactly why I stopped watching the Olympics many, many years ago. With the endorsements & drugs, it's leaves me with a really icky feeling. All those Under Armour, Milk, Subway, etc advertisements playing non-stop before the games even begin? Yeah, I'm convinced they're getting a huge kick back. They're basically 'entertainers' vying for Network Ratings.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

Blahblahvampemer — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:02:46 GMT

The Olympics lost me when the "pros from Dover" came in to ruin skating. Okay, you had the French and Russian judges colluding, but when the pros returned to capture their former Olympic glory, they took all of the medals. Those that came in fourth, fifth and sixth were cheated out of their medals. Then the pros flooded other sports, and I thought it was nothing more than cheating. I watched a few skating routines during the winter games when the American guy won the gold, but I haven't really turned in since the Atlanta games in 1996.

It doesn't help that I think NBC is one of the worst networks to cover the Olympics.

Re: Pros in the Olympics

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:54:18 GMT

@madzonie wrote:
This may have been discussed previously, but I just had to get something off my chest.

I remember when the Olympics used to be so strict about no "pro" athletes competing in what is supposed to be the ultimte in amatuer sports. But slowly through the years, the powers in charge decided paid athletes would bring more interest....and more money....to the show.

Mix in TV and lucrative endorsements and commercials, over-the-top Hollywood-style opening ceremonies and we now have an event that no longer seems to showcase those dedicated and talented amatuer atheletes around the world.

One vivid recollection of this transition was when the so-called "dream team" pro basketball team went to Barcelona in 1992. They were cocky and self-assured and acted like they couldn't be beaten. I remember being a bit embarassed for our country at their behavior.

Another vivd memory of mine was when the amateur U.S. ice hockey team won gold at Lake Placid in the 1980 Winter Olympics. They were the "Do you believe in miracles?" team that was cherished because they won when they were said to have no chance.

Now there are professional golfers, soccer & basketball players, tennis champs and on and on...

This kind of makes me miss the old days.

@madzonie

This has been going on for a while, so I'm surprised you are suddenly upset about it.

Practicing to become Olympic-worthy is not cheap! It takes years of training, practice and a good support system of adults around them!

Sports of any kind is a money making opportunity. If the Americans adhered to using only "amateur" athletes and every other country participating brought in professionals, would you think this is how we should approach this?

Re: Pros in the Olympics

AngusandBuddhasMom — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 16:00:16 GMT

The good old days??

The disparity between male and female athletes and sports as well as supposed lucrative contracts, stipends is huge.

A lot of athletes make zilch pursuing their Olympic goals and they are not Gov't sponsored or come from wealthy families. So whatever money they make good for them.

The good old days meant everyone who was a successful athlete outside the USA was making money and ours were not.

I see nobody complaining about our professional college football and basketball players ...

Re: Pros in the Olympics

Allegheny — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 16:41:48 GMT

If so inclined an interesting read is at Smithsonianmag.com,"Why are Jim Thorpe's Olympic Records Still Not Recognized?

Re: Pros in the Olympics

RainCityWoman — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 17:17:44 GMT

@madzonie wrote:
This may have been discussed previously, but I just had to get something off my chest.

I remember when the Olympics used to be so strict about no "pro" athletes competing in what is supposed to be the ultimte in amatuer sports. But slowly through the years, the powers in charge decided paid athletes would bring more interest....and more money....to the show.

Mix in TV and lucrative endorsements and commercials, over-the-top Hollywood-style opening ceremonies and we now have an event that no longer seems to showcase those dedicated and talented amatuer atheletes around the world.

One vivid recollection of this transition was when the so-called "dream team" pro basketball team went to Barcelona in 1992. They were cocky and self-assured and acted like they couldn't be beaten. I remember being a bit embarassed for our country at their behavior.

Another vivd memory of mine was when the amateur U.S. ice hockey team won gold at Lake Placid in the 1980 Winter Olympics. They were the "Do you believe in miracles?" team that was cherished because they won when they were said to have no chance.

Now there are professional golfers, soccer & basketball players, tennis champs and on and on...

This kind of makes me miss the old days.

I'm not sure exactly when it changed for the United States, but the complaint always was that our athletes had to be amateurs who weren't paid for their sport, but East Germany, USSR, and eastern block countries subsidized everything in their athletes' lives. They were the elite of their society. Hence, the rules changed as sports in the Olympics expanded.