In recent years, the Olympic Games have become a spectacle of professional athletes, non-traditional sports like break dancing and skateboarding, and rampant commercialization targeting a profitable younger demographic.

As the world gathers this summer to witness this global event in Paris, France, it is imperative to reflect on whether the modern Olympics still embody the principles and spirit upon which they were founded.

Professional Athletes: Diluting the Amateur Spirit

Including professional athletes in the Olympics has undoubtedly raised the level of competition, but it has also diluted the essence of the Games. Originally conceived as a platform for amateur athletes to showcase their skills, the Olympics allowed lesser-known competitors to achieve international recognition for their dedication to athleticism and hard-won achievements.

The influx of professional athletes, many of whom already enjoy fame and fortune in their respective sports, shifts the focus from pure athleticism and fair competition to high-stakes, profit-driven performances. This shift undermines the Olympic spirit of equality and fair play, favoring those with more resources and access to superior training facilities.

Non-Traditional Sports: Straying from Core Values

While the evolution of sports is natural, including non-traditional sports in the Olympics raises questions about the criteria used to select these events. Sports like skateboarding, surfing, and breakdancing have recently made their Olympic debuts. While these sports have their own unique appeal and dedicated followings, their inclusion appears to be driven more by a desire to attract younger audiences and boost viewership than by their alignment with Olympic values. Adding such sports risks turning the Olympics into a spectacle-driven by trends rather than celebrating timeless athletic achievements.

Exploitation and Monetization: A Commercial Juggernaut

The commercialization of the Olympics has reached unprecedented levels. Sponsorship deals, broadcasting rights, and advertising campaigns have transformed the Games into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. While this influx of money has enabled the hosting of grandiose events and the construction of state-of-the-art facilities, it has also led to the exploitation of athletes and host cities.

Athletes are often subjected to intense pressure to perform, not just for personal glory but for the financial gain of sponsors and national federations, not to mention the politics of their respective countries, where failure can result in harsh consequences. This pressure can lead to unethical practices, such as doping, which undermines the integrity of the competition, and the acceptance of gender-bending athletes, which leads to unfair advantages based on inherent natural sex-based abilities.

Moreover, the burden placed on host cities to build infrastructure and accommodate the influx of visitors often results in long-term economic challenges and displacement of local communities. Witness the aftermath of the Olympics, including the decay and disrepair of many Olympic event venues that are too expensive to maintain and far outstrip usage in daily life.

PGA writ large...

"Scott Alexander Scheffler is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He is currently ranked world number one, first reaching the position in the Official World Golf Ranking in March 2022, and has held that ranking for over 90 weeks."

What amateur could compete? Golf already has its own national and international competitions. Why is this even an Olympic sport, other than to attract an audience of golfers?

Bottom line…

We must return to its roots to reclaim the spirit of the Olympics. This means prioritizing amateur athletes, focusing on traditional sports embodying Olympic values, and reducing the commercialization that exploits athletes and host cities. The Olympics should celebrate athletic excellence, fair competition, and global unity, not a commercial juggernaut prioritizing profits over principles.

As fans, athletes, and stakeholders, we can advocate for change. By supporting initiatives that promote amateurism, pushing for the inclusion of sports that align with Olympic values, and holding organizers accountable for ethical practices, we can help ensure that the Olympics remain a true celebration of the human spirit.

Otherwise, the Olympic games are a joke – little more than another media production to further exploit athletes and monetize sports. Where professional athletes with multi-million dollar support systems compete against amateurs with part-time jobs, and non-traditional sports like Skateboarding, Breakdancing, Surfing, BMX Freestyle Cycling, and others are designed solely to capture a younger demographic audience.

We are being screwed by the “elite” organizers and their money-making schemes.

-- Steve