Section C: Olympic Games: a global perspective

Section C: Olympic Games: aglobal perspective

7. Amateurism

Syllabus

•Traditional definition of amateurism in the OlympicGames

•Definition as a tool for excluding the working class insports events organised for the upper class

•Definition as a noble concept

•Transition to professionalism

•‘broken time’ payment

•Lack of policy from the IOC

•Abuse of the amateur ideal

•Necessity for full time pursuit to achieve Olympicsuccess

Why is amateurism no longer viable?

•In order to achieve success athletes need fulltimepursuit

•Cannot afford to be amateur – high living /training / equipment costs

•Olympic Games are now a commercial event

•Dictated to by world economic climate

•Host country needs to make a profit or at leastbreak even

•Many sports are ‘wealth sports’ e.g. sailing