Athletes don't get paid, entertainers get paid. A lot of athletes don't understand that.

The alternative, if you're good at a sport few want to watch, is to scrape out a living with sponsorship deals. Although I'm sure some of these athletes do well financially.

Olympic athletes in the US are in a tough place. They compete against government funded athletes from other countries, with very little USOC support, yet are expected by Americans to win despite that obstacle, because... 'Murica...

I can see it either way, but if we want to be an Olympic superpower, we need to support the athletes.

I would vote to support them more, but I am highly biased.

Well, the IOC is a racket. The 'rule 40' or whatever it is doesn't allow these athletes to market their sponsors a period of time before, during and after the Olympics. So basically why would a company even consider sponsoring these guys who get publicity every 4 years.

All of that sponsorship money from Visa and others goes to the higher ups and not the athletes.

Edit to add: I recall last winter Olympics the plumber snowboarder (I think its the same guy). He is actually sponsored by Bradford White Water Heaters, but again can't wear a Bradford white Water Heater t-shirt in the Olympic village or he will forfeit any medals he wins.

Personally I would rather see that money go into education.

I forgot about that whole stupidity. There were a ton of summer athletes pissed about that a couple years ago.

Certainly a noble ideal, but I don't think a lack of funding is anywhere near the primary problem with education.

Grant.Reuter wrote:

I forgot about that whole stupidity. There were a ton of summer athletes pissed about that a couple years ago.

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/olympics/inside-sports-business-olympic-athletes-to-face-social-media-restrictions-in-february/


Found this article.


Right before the Rio Games, American middle-distance runner Kate Grace won the women’s 800 meters at the Olympic trials. A Seattle-based sports-apparel company, Oiselle, which sponsors Grace, sent out an Instagram saying “She’s going to Rio!’’
The next day, as first reported by Yahoo Finance, the USOC sent a letter demanding Oiselle take down the post and threatening to “exercise all available remedies’’ to force compliance. Oiselle afterward reverted to mentioning the Games as “The Big Event in the Southern Hemisphere.’’

And it does already, since most Olympic athletes train and compete for their sports at the college level, which is partially funded--to some degree--by state and federal money.

I don't want federal dollars going to Olympic sports, if people want to watch the sport and money is raised that way; if people want to raise funds crowdsourcing or through sponsors that's great as well. People will always be willing to sacrifice a fwe years of their life and earnings potential to chase a dream and I think it's fine that way.

That said, I do think the USOC should allow for private sponsors of these athletes, I hate all these governing bodies FIFA, NCAA, IOC, USOC because they go overboard in their control of what athletes are able to do when they're participating in the league/a part of the program.

This. All the bureaucrats make money. Those in the upper echelon make a fortune. The athletes, well, fuck them.

Excellent point. If the governing bodies are handcuffing these athletes in terms of sponsorship opportunities, then doesn't it become sort of their responsibility to provide support? OR, remove the regulations and let each athlete seek what they can get on the open market... I think either system can work well, but would favor the latter if it was available.

how does this work in other countries? The UK seems to have completely turned around their sports programs with lottery funding but i think that is focused on medals and performances rather than a general stipend

when i see top class sportspeople from the sports i compete in complain about lack of financial rewards i have to admit i don't have a lot of sympathy. They are living the dream most of us were not gifted enough to have. In any case, they knew the deal when they started down the path.

So would you argue that the US is not already an Olympic Superpower? I think we do very well in Medal count in every single olympics, summer or winter. Seems that the current process is working.

Now in reality, until the athletes step up and demand change (strike) and cause the corrupt people at the top some pain, nothing will change. But we, the people are not going to have much impact on this.

Nick Symmonds auctioned off space on his shoulder with a temporary tattoo. It actually got the more attention because he was required to put white tape over the tattoo.

I'll just add that USA Wrestling seems to be doing it right.

Top 3 at each weight class get an OK living allowance. And most training has been moved to regional training centers (RTC) which are generally very good at fundraising. I think there are about 50 of them now. Ours in Iowa City (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) is one of the biggest/best and we can keep 6-8 on the roster fairly comfortably. The ones at Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State and Arizona State are also doing very well.

And the move to RTCs has coincided with good improvement in success at the international level. Won the team title at World Championships last year. Put 4 in the finals and 3 champions at the toughest tournament in the world last week.

I'll be heading to Cuba with 45 athletes next month. Few, if any of them, are paying their own way.

Andy

I thought it was ridicules that people voluntarily participating in sports think they are entitled to financial support and shouldn't have to work a real job. What's your opinion?

I have a problem when governments fund athletes. Try telling a taxpayer struggling to make ends meet trying to support their family that their tax dollars are being used to help someone fulfill their dream of going to the Olympics. Athletes don't get up every morning and train "for their country", they train so they can compete in the Olympics and try to win for themselves. Athletes, pro or amateur are selfish pursuits, that's the only way they can win.

What particularly annoys me is that some athletes are sponsored by the government and if they win a gold, get a lot of money in sponsorship deals but don't pay the government back for their funding. That should be a given.

If the IOC was really concerned with athletes, they would provide income instead of accepting the millions in bribes. Use the advertising money they generate and pay the athletes who don't get sponsorship money. Or, athletes can find their own private funding but it shouldn't be another government program.

Superb Owl.

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"Go yell at an M&M"

What sports do most US Olympians compete in while in college? I would think that they would be a rather small minority.

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"Go yell at an M&M"

Sounds like American businesses. So much winning!

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"Go yell at an M&M"

Yeah, f&ck those guys/gals. They are living the high life pursuing their dreams.

http://maddockdouglas.com/...udent-loan-borrower/

Funding Olympic Dreams

It's not working for most of the athletes.

Swimming, track and field, and diving come to mind off the top of my head as sports that have a very strong relationship with NCAA programs. It seems to be popular for athletes to take the Olympic year off from school though to be able to train at a sufficient level. Amateur sports aren't really amateur sports anymore.

I don't think the point is that they are living it up and slacking, but more that it is entirely their choice. It is not an unreasonable position to say that the govt should help athletes pursuing the olympics, but I also don't think it is unreasonable to say we should not. If an individual decides to pursue a non-lucrative life path, isn't that on them? Sure, switching to working a normal job might sacrifice their Olympic dream, but since when are we guaranteed a shot at Olympic dreams?