• Potatisen@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    30
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    3 months ago

    That shit is so sad.

    How badly is your society functioning when your Olympians can’t even pay rent, holy fuck.

      • Potatisen@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        28
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        3 months ago

        I know but she’s from “the greatest country on earth”, competing at the highest level of her sport and the system she lives in can’t provide for her?

        That’s just sick.

        • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          8
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          3 months ago

          That’s the rules for the Olympics. It’s supposed to be a competition against amateur athletes. Therefore, it’s against the rules for her to receive any compensation from the government for her contributions.

          • asdfasdfasdf@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            9
            ·
            3 months ago

            I don’t think they’re saying she should be paid for her work in the Olympics. I think they’re saying she is a very talented person who, even outside of this competition, cannot afford rent, which is sad.

          • Troy@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            6
            ·
            3 months ago

            All those professionals competing in amateur Olympics really messes with the concept though, eh?

            Furthermore, many countries reward medalists with a small bonus. In Canada, for example, you get something like $10-20k ($CAD) per medal. Not a lot, but you can probably cover a month or two of expenses. Being an athlete isn’t cheap.

            • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              3 months ago

              Yeah, there was a lot of controversy when I was a kid over letting professional athletes compete in the Olympics during the off-season. Plus I’m sure some less scrupulous countries directly fund the programs just under the table. But for this particular case, your issue should be with the rules prohibiting college players from receiving compensation, despite the schools making millions of dollars from their sports programs. Her beef is with the school, not with the nation.

          • Notyou
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            6
            ·
            3 months ago

            Supposed to be, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen NBA professionals playing at the Olympics. Why make an exception for them?

          • scutiger@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            3 months ago

            It’s supposed to be a competition against amateur athletes

            It hasn’t been true in a long time. Basketball and hockey teams, for example, have been chock full of professional athletes for quite a while now. Hell, the American and Canadian teams are basically NBA and NHL All-Star teams.

            There are also many countries that reward their Olympians handsomely for earning medals.

          • kurap1ka@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            3 months ago

            Doesn’t mean you can be put in a position that finances you and sets up for a life after sports. Here most of the athletes are police or military who complete basic training and are on paid leave for as long as they are in the national team.