From the point of view of what the Olympics were supposed to be about (independently-wealthy amateur athletes competing to be the best amateurs in the world), t

From the point of view of what the Olympics were supposed to be about (independently-wealthy amateur athletes competing to be the best amateurs in the world), this actually makes perfect sense: none of the athletes needed to make money, and it is perfectly fine to give a volunteer executive travel expenses commensurate with his station in life. Given what the Olympics have become, it makes no sense. The sooner they are dropped for good, the better.