Thoughts On The Olympics?

[ilikekicks]

Someone I was doing an estimate for earlier today asked me ' What do you think about the Olymipcs? ' and I think my answer shocked them. I loved when the Olympics were all amateurs, competing for the honor and pride of their countries. When the Russians started using professional Hockey Players and then the US put together the ' Dream Team ' of all NBA players for their basketball team, I was completely turned off and havent watched any of the olympics since. Should Professional Athletes be allowed to compete? -ILK

[Mike Hinch]

Should Professional Athletes be allowed to compete? Well maybe but not like that. Remember that guy that was disqualified when it was reported that he had played professional minor league baseball and that was not even his Olympic event.

[meganiwish]

I'm totally bored by the whole corporate bandwagon it's become. For some of the smaller events, like archery or handball I hope it's good for the competitors, a once in a lifetime opportunity. For the track athletes who still strut around with the self-righteousness of amateurs even though they now get paid huge amounts, I hope it's a total fiasco. I hope the politicians trying to ride it end up with egg on their faces. Gosh, how mean spirited of me. Megan - Official Antipathist to London 2012

[Heelster]

I can understand how it's gotten to be a bit ruined with the professional sport athletes now, but I did watch a few minutes today just because. I also know that I will be the only person from my workplace that will watch any of the events. If it's not WWE wrestling (which I don't really consider a sport) football, or NASCAR, nobody I know will pay any attention to it. It's the mentality of the Neanderthals I work with.

[FreshinHeels]

Except synchronised swimming and few other sports try to watch loads of it. I like sport, I like to see the winners and the losers. Don't like the stuff around it but ye can't blame the sport athletes for that. Even watched the opingceremony for the first time and quite enjoyed it. And on professional athletes it's a pity that they are also allowed to compete. But lets's be honest even between amateurs there is bucket's of difference. Ye can't blame an athlete for cashing in for his hard work with comercials and such.

[Dr. Shoe]

OK. Professional athletes compete in international championships, what's the difference? On the other hand, there should be a chance for amateurs to compete on the international stage. What is the definition of a professional athlete anyway? Athletes who are paid apearance money or athletes who are supported financially by sponsors? If you see kids playing soccer in the park but they're wearing shirts with the name of a local company that pays for their strip (uniform), are they professionals? There is a gulf of difference between them and guys who are paid enough by their sponsors so that they do not have to hold down a 9-5 and can train 5,6 or 7 hours per day. But where is the line drawn? What do I think of the Olympics? My boyfriend is away photographing the Eventing (dressage today I think) and stands to earn £600 for four days work. Therefore I love it!

[Guest]

Watching the cycling yesterday and checking the route map from my early life in Kingston I have travelled on almost every road used. As a 10 year old I have cycled round Richmond Park so I knew the route from early days. I feel a shared ownership with the Olympic cyclists and feeling proud.

It is a huge cost

, there are bits I love and some that bore me.

I hope it works out worthwhile.

Al

[Shafted]

Been more of a winter olympics fan myself. I guess it would take me back to my youth playing in the snow.

[meganiwish]

OK.

Professional athletes compete in international championships, what's the difference? On the other hand, there should be a chance for amateurs to compete on the international stage.

What is the definition of a professional athlete anyway? Athletes who are paid apearance money or athletes who are supported financially by sponsors?

If you see kids playing soccer in the park but they're wearing shirts with the name of a local company that pays for their strip (uniform), are they professionals? There is a gulf of difference between them and guys who are paid enough by their sponsors so that they do not have to hold down a 9-5 and can train 5,6 or 7 hours per day. But where is the line drawn?

What do I think of the Olympics? My boyfriend is away photographing the Eventing (dressage today I think) and stands to earn £600 for four days work. Therefore I love it!

If you are sponsored to help meet expenses like specialist equipment or travel to competitions, but you do the sport for the love of it, then you're an amateur. If any money you receive through your sport pays your bills, you're a professional. There are three main ways to be professionally paid in sport: sponsorship, direct paid employment by a club or prize money. The Olympics doesn't offer monetary prizes and there's no-one to do the employing, so it comes down to sponsorship. The trouble is that sponsorship unlevels the playing field, some people being more favoured than others. They're not allowed to use drugs, why should they be allowed any other outside advantage?

Edited July 29, 2012 by meganiwish

[manluvheels]

There are three main ways to be professionally paid in sport: sponsorship, direct paid employment by a club or prize money.

The other source for top UK athletes is Lottery Funding through the sporting bodies. Those that make the grade get what might be called a living wage to allow them to concentrate on becoming even more excellent.

I do wonder however, where football (soccer) fits in with the Olympic ethos of "Fair Play", when there are so many cynical "Professional Fouls" committed. Not that I like the game particularly.

The clock will never be turned back now, but it would be nice to think it could

[newheeler]

Someone I was doing an estimate for earlier today asked me ' What do you think about the Olymipcs? ' and I think my answer shocked them.

I loved when the Olympics were all amateurs, competing for the honor and pride of their countries. When the Russians started using professional Hockey Players and then the US put together the ' Dream Team ' of all NBA players for their basketball team, I was completely turned off and havent watched any of the olympics since.

Should Professional Athletes be allowed to compete?

-ILK

Ah the great dream team, i loved them, probably why i started to play basketball as much as i could. They were the true professionals, compared to other teams. They won without putting too much sweat into their game, i wonder if they could be called the golden team of basketball like our football (soccer) players were called once.

Whether amateurs or professionals, i don't really care as long as they entertain me Professionals are usually better at that imo.

[meganiwish]

I like to watch rugby. It's much less entertaining since it went professional.

[nyenor]

I have not been watching them. For one thing, with the nine hour time difference, many of the events take place in the middle of the night in Australia. In my opinion no teams sports should be included as most of these have their own 'World Championships'. Also the games have become too commercialised and I feel that too many 'also rans' get to participate. As I understand things, in the 'origina' games in Greece it was the different states 'champions' who took part. Perhaps this should be applied these days, each countries CHAMPION at each event the only competitor from that country.

[Gudulitooo]

My opinion is the initial idea of reserving the games to amateurs was to prevent money from interfering into the fair play of the athletes, their health, and into the rules.

Now, as soon as

- the rules are not changed for greedy reasons,

- athletes are not talked into drugs for the only purpose of enriching their trainers, teams or whoever is around them (like in cyclism)

- they are not fighting for their lives like in the circus games in antic Rome

I don't see why a person particulary skilled for a sport should not be allowed to compete, and why its country could not be proud of being the homeland of healthy and performing people.

Now you would say that amateurs have less chances to participate because they don't have as much time for training.

Yet in the antic greece, the fact that only amateurs could take part excluded all non rich people.

Nowadys even poor people can access sport clubs and eventually get paid for their performances, so this actually reduces the inequalities if they are accepted.

Just my 2 cents.

Eric

Edited July 31, 2012 by Gudulitooo

[HappyinHeels]

ALL, I personally have been a big fan of the Olympics since I first remember watching them in 1968 in Mexico City. The standout that year was an African athlete from Tanzania I think who, some two hours after a race had been decided was asked by a reporter, "Why didn't you just quit since the race had long since been decided?" The athlete repleied; "My country did not send me here to quit but to finish and that is what I'm doing." While I like both summer and winter games I'd have to give the edge to the winter games being a resident of Wisconsin and a son of a Canadian. How can ever forget what happened on 21 FEB 1980 when a ragtag group of young kids took on the Soviet hockey machine and won? Anyone coaching young kids can look to that moment and encourage them to achieve what they once thought unachieveable. As far as the corporate angle people should look themselves in the mirror. If none of patronized these businesses and failed to fill the stadiums of the world then the companies wouldn't have the money to spend on the games and the athletes and the athletes wouldn't be making a 1/100th of what they often rake in. It's simple economics: if enough people don't like a company then sales will fall and the company will fail. The Olympics represent what we really want to see; a good fight and a good cause carried out by athletes representing.......us. Remember the line in the movie "Miracle"? Coach Herb Brooks had his squad retake the ice after an exhibition game in Norway and asked them their names, their schools, and whom they played for. Mike Eruzione initially said he played for Coach Brooks. After two hours of grueling practice Mike's voice again broke the silence. He sounded off: "Mike Eruzione--Boston, Mass." Coach Brooks then asked him "Whom do you play for?" Mike then said, "I play for the United States of America." That's the Olympic spirit. The name on the front of one's jersey (one's country) is a helluva lot more important than the one on the back. That's what the Olympics mean to me. God, I can't wait for Rio de Janeiro 2016! HappyinHeels

[meganiwish]

In Ancient Greece the Olympics were reserved for 'free men of pure Hellenic race'. They had a different view of society from us, and opportunity is really a modern concept. Do we really believe that the sponsors had nothing to do with the introduction of the so-called 'Eddie's Law', named after Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, which prevents anyone not in the top whatever in the world from competing even in the qualifying rounds? We'll never have the joy of watching a Jamaican bobsleigh team again.

[FreshinHeels]

Nothing wrong with preventing some sporters from participation and they are still to easy sometimes Rowers that are only rowing for 2 months, that judoka from Saoudi Arabia didnt know what to do on that mat etc. etc.

[Kittyinboots]

I've always enjoyed watching the Olympics. I love seeing "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". Always enjoyed rooting for the underdog, or a Cinderella story. I would say that I am okay with countries using professional athletes. I quote John Stockton from 1992 USA Basketball Dream Team. If other countries can use their professional athletes, why can't we? I also like to see the host nation do well in the medal count.

Edited August 5, 2012 by Kittyinboots

[Dr. Shoe]

Thrid in the medal table... not bad!

[FreshinHeels]

GB doing very well Lightning Bolt

[Bubba136]

I've thoroughly enjoyed watching events. GB soldbe proud of the job they are doing. Keep it up and the entire world will know the success it was. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching events. GB should be proud of the job they are doing. Keep it up and the entire world will know the success it was.

[FreshinHeels]

That was it then London back to normal. Quite enjoyed the closing ceremony with the highlight for me ,the performance of always look on the bright side of life. Overall very good Olympics, well done Great Britain.

Edited August 12, 2012 by FreshinHeels

[Guest]

Absolute Cracking ceremony. Chris went on the first day of the Athletics. The smiles, welcome and guidance from the volunteers were outstanding the praise they got was fully warranted, THEY made it work! For those that saw it hope you noticed the "fashion parade" male model in heels, I nearly fell off my seat! Also the Choir on the stage only had a few girls in low heels most were sporting good heights with and without platfoms. Your turn Brazil good luck we wish you every success in the biggest party ever. Al

[FreshinHeels]

For those that saw it hope you noticed the "fashion parade" male model in heels, I nearly fell off my seat!

Yeah same here totally forgot to mention that

[benno]

Er... That man in heels was Stella Tennant and she's a woman!

[Guest]

Opps I stand corrected even if she does look more male than fem. Sorry to get peoples hopes up Al

[benno]

No probs. I though exactly the same thing and then I realised it was Stella.

[Shafted]

Actually this may be a good thing. On the runway the gender lines are being crossed to the point where gender is becoming irrelevent in creating a visually appealing image to the eye.

[benno]

Been going on for years in the world of 'fashion'. Just need the rest of the world to start doing it! : )

[FreshinHeels]

Opps I stand corrected even if she does look more male than fem.

Sorry to get peoples hopes up

Al

oops also