why are professionals allowed in some Olympic disciplines and not in others?

Question

It appears that only true amateurs are participating in olympic boxing. All the professionals are present in olympic basketball. It seems that the rules governing the amateurs vs. professionals eligibility are arbitrary at best. The Olympic movement does not exist anymore and Olympic ideals are now dead.

Answer 1

Every sport is governed by an International Organization which determines whether or not to allow professionals to compete, which is why different sports have different participation rules.



You also have to look at the way the different sports compare to the pro game. Basketball is essentially the same at the Olympics as it is in Professional leagues around the world. Boxing on the other hand, is not. Many top level pro fighters fight maybe two or three times per year. In the Olympics, they have to fight that many times in two weeks. Also, Professional fighters are a lot stronger and a lot more refined than amateurs, and allowing pro fighters would make Olympic boxing more dangerous, as the pros would be able to do more damage, and winning fighters may not get enough time to fully recover before their next fight.

Answer 2

Well... I don't really know the answer to this question but I just wanted to mention that olympic athletes do get money (if they win a medal). So what that guy under my comment said is not true. For the rest... I think that athletes decide if they want to participate or not. For example: An Italian girl from the swim team started at 16 years and back then she said she will partecipate at only 2 or 3 olympic games because after that she wants to have a family... kids etc. Maybe amateurs are still looking for a career while professionals have it already and might just want to give a new turn to their lives.

Answer 3

Ben Johnson, if representing US could have had a similar destiny. He examined effective for drugs. No u . s . can save the athlete in olympics through cost. quite a few US gamers in olympics have been sacked and medals stripped through drug use. a girl sprinter named Marion jones includes techniques. Her gold medal replace into stripped. There are few extra US athletes too who have been booted. every person who says if Ben Johnson reprsented US and have been given away with it -- a million) Has no wisdom of olympics 2) never watches olympics 3) is easily out of touch with how strict drug attempt regulations are. For non-drug appropriate judgements, there could be partiality and unfair judgements if the rustic alluring is US, China, Russia or Japan (i.e. super medal winners). If incorrect decision occurs, then criticize it and forget it. to maintain repeating oftentimes is of little need. on a similar time, basic image for many asian and african international places in olympics isn't stable while it includes triumphing medals. The boxing adventure between US participant and Indian gamers replace into no longer even televised in US, through controversy in touch. as a effect over ninety 8% individuals have not any wisdom approximately it the two. the U. S. media says no longer something approximately it too. neither is the different u . s . as properly India reporting of this the two. There are too little style of folk who additionally be conscious of. consistent with threat the reason of consistent protesting is they like their voice to be heard, and no-one is listening to it

Answer 4

I would suppose because no professional boxers actually want to participate in the Olympics. All that training, grueling fights, and then...no money? Does that sound like a typical pro boxer to you?



Whereas there were actually pro basketball players who wanted to compete

Answer 5

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