Explain to me why professionals can't take part in the olympics?

[P51]

From what I understand the only sport that allows professionals is basketball.


Seems stupid isn't this about the best of the best? Not people who are close to being the best.

[XTA]

In what sports? Are there professional divers or fencers?

[iiradman]

Yea, any sports you're talking about specifically?

[_Marcus_]

Yea, any sports you're talking about specifically?

if i'm not mistaken professional ice skaters are not allowed to compete... don't quote me on this though

[MentallyPhil]

[MerlinAppa]

that was like 50 years ago, hahaha

[TriathleteBrah]

[blair420]

boxing, amateurs only

[tdub27]

michael phelps isn't professional guys

[P51]

Yea, any sports you're talking about specifically?

Boxing for example.

[env]

Soccer...

[MewOoo]

To even out the play ground. Just look at equatorial new guinea. Plus there arent a lot of professionals in many sports. When did u hear pro archers.

Sports is an entertainment business. It can only survive if it is popular among Ppl watching.

Olympics is the super pro event for many athletes like swimmers and lifters

[skinny1ne]

OP put the question in a dumb way, but he's correct in that some sports have restrictions on 'proffesional' players - one of them being soccer. I dont really care enough to look it up though.

[suave2000]

Yea, any sports you're talking about specifically?

Professional boxers can't fight for an example.

If they allowed it Mexico would be wrecking everyone, sad stuff.

[Rollog]

They should allow professional wrestlers to take part, it would make the wrestling a whole lot more interesting.

[SteamedPotato]

Soccer aint that bad with the rules. All of the players are still professional but teams cant be at full strength. Most of the players have to be u23 with a few over age 23 allowed.

[callum-2006]

Professional boxers fight for millions of pounds in exclusive events on tightly bound contracts, they wouldn't compete for just a medal and their managers wouldn't allow it so the rules are set to amateur only.

Footballers already have the world cup, if the Olympics didn't set restrictions it would just be a carbon copy of that. Having the under 23 rule at least gives a chance to the younger generation. Not to mention the fact they are all contracted for millions of pounds to clubs.




As far as the rest of the events go, they are all the best of the best you can get. You think Usain Bolt isn't a professional sprinter?

[Fozzy13]

the can...duh.

the whole amateurs only thing ended a while ago.

[mexanacho]

Professional boxers can't fight for an example.

If they allowed it Mexico would be wrecking everyone, sad stuff.

lol this, I dont understand why sports like tennis and basketball have pro players but boxing and soccer dont

[saintpatrick]

tennis allows pros

[HalifaxGoatny]

In swimming and athletics at the olympic trials players compete as an amateur (collegiate athletes), under a sponsor (professionals), or unattached (no sponsor, non collegiate). A good portion of the athletes are pros because they make money competing in sports, but many amateurs compete as well.

[Fozzy13]

the can...duh.

the whole amateurs only thing ended a while ago.

Beginning in the 1970s, amateurism requirements were gradually phased out of the Olympic Charter. After the 1988 Games, the IOC decided to make all professional athletes eligible for the Olympics, subject to the approval of the IFs.[126] As of 2004, the only sports in which no professionals compete are boxing and wrestling, although even this requires a definition of amateurism based on fight rules rather than on payment, as some boxers and wrestlers receive cash prizes from their National Olympic Committees. In men's association football (soccer), only three professional players over the age of 23 are eligible to participate per team in the Olympic tournament.



























/thread

[dryst]

They should allow professional wrestlers to take part, it would make the wrestling a whole lot more interesting.

wasnt GSP in the olympics for wrestling?

[gormless]

lol this, I dont understand why sports like tennis and basketball have pro players but boxing and soccer dont

soccer does

[ToPHeR35]

They should allow professional wrestlers to take part, it would make the wrestling a whole lot more interesting.

[Mrs Grudge]

lol this, I dont understand why sports like tennis and basketball have pro players but boxing and soccer dont

um...they do? have no idea where people got this idea that they do not allow professional athletes in Soccer. There is a cap on age to make it different from the World Cup, that's about it.

As for boxing, you guys know that the sport in itself is actually amateur boxing right. Ever notice how they wear head gear and it's based heavily on points? It's because guys would not be able to fight each other and recover in such a short amount of time. Aside from that, there is little reason for the best boxers in the world to waste their time in the Olympics considering there isn't a lot of money in it.

[bcop]

They should allow professional wrestlers to take part, it would make the wrestling a whole lot more interesting.

[Need2bulk4life]

Soccer...

They didn't want it to be a copy of FIFA is what I've heard

[iiradman]

if i'm not mistaken professional ice skaters are not allowed to compete... don't quote me on this though

Boxing for example.

Professional boxers can't fight for an example.

If they allowed it Mexico would be wrecking everyone, sad stuff.

Now I've read the below quotes.

Professional boxers fight for millions of pounds in exclusive events on tightly bound contracts, they wouldn't compete for just a medal and their managers wouldn't allow it so the rules are set to amateur only.

Footballers already have the world cup, if the Olympics didn't set restrictions it would just be a carbon copy of that. Having the under 23 rule at least gives a chance to the younger generation. Not to mention the fact they are all contracted for millions of pounds to clubs.




As far as the rest of the events go, they are all the best of the best you can get. You think Usain Bolt isn't a professional sprinter?

Beginning in the 1970s, amateurism requirements were gradually phased out of the Olympic Charter. After the 1988 Games, the IOC decided to make all professional athletes eligible for the Olympics, subject to the approval of the IFs.[126] As of 2004, the only sports in which no professionals compete are boxing and wrestling, although even this requires a definition of amateurism based on fight rules rather than on payment, as some boxers and wrestlers receive cash prizes from their National Olympic Committees. In men's association football (soccer), only three professional players over the age of 23 are eligible to participate per team in the Olympic tournament.

/thread

Seems about right.

So...the approval of most professionals seemed taboo decades ago? The freedom in modern times has now been INCREASED, in terms of who is eligible to compete?

I always assumed it was the best of the best...of the best. With SOME exceptions. The football requirements^ seems fair.

Otherwise we would practically have the world cup twice every 4 years.

[HalifaxGoatny]

They should allow professional wrestlers to take part, it would make the wrestling a whole lot more interesting.

Kurt Angle won gold in 1996