2 ms·
I still don't quite get what the exact limits on who can compete are. I was reading the Olympic rulebook, and there are a bunch of very strict rules on who can
by bowsamic 2y ago
I still don't quite get what the exact limits on who can compete are.
I was reading the Olympic rulebook, and there are a bunch of very strict rules on who can't compete, based on the general principle that the competitors be amateurs.
But just preceding those rules there is a paragraph saying (paraphrased) "these rules can be ignored by the officials so long as the spirit of only amateurs is preserved".
Yet, it turns out that tennis was not part of the Olympics for years because the International Tennis Federation was against the rules regarding amateurs. So in 1988 they brought it back with absolutely zero restrictions, meaning any tennis player in the world can play at the Olympics, including professionals.
Does anyone happen to have a list of which sports in the Olympics totally ignore this rule, in addition to tennis?
- mantas 2y agoBasketball stopped enforcing it for 1992 olympics. Then NBA ban was lifted and US dream team became a thing. Basketball professionals ban was a bit weird too. NBA was banned, yet all the euro pro leagues were fine.
- vanattab 2y agoI think only wrestling and boxing are the only amateur only sports remaining and I think boxing is allowing pros in the next Olympics.
- vanattab 2y agoEdit: actually boxing started allowing pros in 2016
- docdeek 2y agoRoad cyclists (almost all male, and many female) are professionals these days. There used to be seperate World Championship titles for Amateur and Professional cyclists on the road but these have long since disappeared in favor of elite + U23 titles.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]