The history of the Olympic Games is a good example of showcasing the amateur-professional divide. When the modern games as we know them were revived in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and the International Olympic Committee at the International Athletic Congress. Enforcing amateurism was central to Pierre de Coubertin’s vision for the Olympics. Competitors at the first Olympics in Athens in 1896 were all wealthy, white, aristocratic men. It is important to look at the Olympics when researching the topic of amateurism as the Olympics are the largest international multi-sport competition in the world. This lead to the adoption of the techniques and social systems that the international Olympic committee set out by many sports. At the start, the Olympics were reserved specifically for the upper classes, the wealthy.
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Some of the best athletes in the world had to refrain from competing in the Olympics as they were receiving endorsements and getting paid for play. By 1980 Rule 26, the law abolishing professional athletes from the Olympic Games, was being reconsidered. Gradually professional athletes were allowed into the Olympics, beginning with tennis in 1987. The Olympic charter reads, “The definition of an amateur in each sport is established by the international federation governing that sport.” This definition is problematic as it results in different definitions of amateurs in each sport and consequently it proved difficult to change the law banning professionals as a ‘professional’ was different in each sport. Looking at the Olympic Games and amateurism is important to highlight the desire of those in control to keep high performance sport ‘amateurs only’ and to keep old traditions alive.
Some of the best athletes in the world had to refrain from competing in the Olympics as they were receiving endorsements and getting paid for play. By 1980 Rule 26, the law abolishing professional athletes from the Olympic Games, was being reconsidered. Gradually professional athletes were allowed into the Olympics, beginning with tennis in 1987. The Olympic charter reads, “The definition of an amateur in each sport is established by the international federation governing that sport.” This definition is problematic as it results in different definitions of amateurs in each sport and consequently it proved difficult to change the law banning professionals as a ‘professional’ was different in each sport. Looking at the Olympic Games and amateurism is important to highlight the desire of those in control to keep high performance sport ‘amateurs only’ and to keep old traditions alive.