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lostalex · 21-05-2012, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omah

Read more: Olympic Athletes — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/spot/olymp...#ixzz1vVDV5qZA

all of the "financial awards" you are referncing in those articles are by private companies. the US government is not sponsoring anyone, infact it would be interesting to see a comparison of how much the US government spends on olympic athletes, compared to China, Russia, Australia, and the UK. I think you'll find that actually the US government gives almost NOTHING to it's athletes, unlike most countries which basically fund their entire careers.

American athletes actually have to make their own way, they don't have state sponsorship like most other olympic powers. They have to earn their way into their own training programs, usually through a college, and find their own scholarships. An American athlete has fought their way to the top by themselves, not by the government choosing them and sponsoring them like China and Russia where they choose small children to train and sponsor their whole lives.

If the US government actually spent as much on olympic athletes as most countries we'd probably win every gold medal.

Omah · 21-05-2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostalex

all of the "financial awards" you are referncing in those articles are by private companies. the US government is not sponsoring anyone

I never mentioned the US government .....

If you'd followed my link, you would have read :

Quote:

An aspiring Olympic athlete spends an average of eight hours a day, seven days a week training their body and mind—more time than a full-time job, which raises the question: how do Olympians earn money to pay for coaches, housing, food, and other living expenses?

Sponsorship

Sponsorship is a form of survival for most athletes, especially those who compete in non-paying events such as the Olympic Games. Sponsorship can cover the cost of living and training for amateur athletes in several different forms including private, corporate, and team ownership.

Amateurism in the modern Olympic Games

Until the 1970s, Olympic athletes could not accept endorsements or prizes, and professionals were not allowed to compete in the Games. Athletes who practiced professionally were considered to have an unfair advantage over those who played sports as a hobby. Amateur athletes relied on private sponsorship, such as family members and wealthy fans, to fund their training and pay living expenses.

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."

Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act

Although the IOC allowed for athlete compensation in 1971, all U.S. athletes still had to be of amateur status to compete on the United States Olympic team until 1978.

Read more: Olympic Athletes — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/spot/olymp...#ixzz1vVHf6PUy