I remember when the Olympic games were strictly for amateur athletes.

Pro athletes were barred.
When did that change?

Famous case : Jim Thorpe

James Francis "Jim" Thorpe (Sac and Fox (Sauk): Wa-Tho-Huk, translated to "Bright Path") (May 28, 1888 – March 28, 1953) was an American athlete of mixed ancestry (Native American and Caucasian). Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals for the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon, played American football (collegiate and professional), and also played professional baseball and basketball.

He lost his Olympic titles after it was found he was paid for playing two seasons of semi-professional baseball before competing in the Olympics, thus violating the amateurism rules. In 1983, 30 years after his death, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) restored his Olympic medals.

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15 replies	Author	Time	Post
I remember when the Olympic games were strictly for amateur athletes. (Original post)	trof	Aug 2012	OP
1986	Zoeisright	Aug 2012	#1
Tennis is especially uninteresting	sadbear	Aug 2012	#8
I agree. And who wants to watch	Ilsa	Aug 2012	#13
They should have allowed them to be sponsored	UnrepentantLiberal	Aug 2012	#15
I'm aware of Jim Thorpe but don't actually remember him. Not that old.	Lint Head	Aug 2012	#2
I was having similar thoughts this morning.	arbusto_baboso	Aug 2012	#3
I always thought	Mutt22	Aug 2012	#4
Russians and Eastern bloc nations, mainly.	trof	Aug 2012	#5
I knew the Russians	Mutt22	Aug 2012	#7
Pretty much	Johonny	Aug 2012	#9
When it was amatuers, it was mostly a good old boys club	hollysmom	Aug 2012	#6
Do you also remember that the "amateur-only" policy was solely to benefit the 1%?	Angleae	Aug 2012	#10
Yes, who can forget the US team's uniform in 1968?	NoPasaran	Aug 2012	#11
Amateur has largely been a myth	JonLP24	Aug 2012	#12
I'm sorry, but allowing pros in is such a bad idea.	Great Caesars Ghost	Aug 2012	#14

Response to trof (Original post)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 06:27 PM

Zoeisright (7,795 posts)

1. 1986

Olympic committee voted to allow any athlete to enter. They said "all of the world's great male and female athletes". I think that's a shame. I don't watch basketball or tennis because it's filled with pros. That isn't interesting.

I remember when the Olympic games were strictly for amateur athletes.

1. 1986

8. Tennis is especially uninteresting

13. I agree. And who wants to watch

15. They should have allowed them to be sponsored

2. I'm aware of Jim Thorpe but don't actually remember him. Not that old.

3. I was having similar thoughts this morning.

4. I always thought

5. Russians and Eastern bloc nations, mainly.

7. I knew the Russians

9. Pretty much

6. When it was amatuers, it was mostly a good old boys club

10. Do you also remember that the "amateur-only" policy was solely to benefit the 1%?

11. Yes, who can forget the US team's uniform in 1968?

12. Amateur has largely been a myth

14. I'm sorry, but allowing pros in is such a bad idea.