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Enhanced Games: Bread and Circuses – And Who Pays the Bill?
🇦🇹 Austria /Sports

Enhanced Games: Bread and Circuses – And Who Pays the Bill?

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • The "Enhanced Games," which allowed doping, have prompted organized sports to reconsider athlete compensation.
  • Only one world record was broken: Kristian Gkolomeev in the 50m freestyle, though the record's official status is questionable.
  • Financially, the games were successful, offering athletes thousands in salary and $250,000 in prize money, highlighting a weakness in Olympic sports funding.

The recent "Enhanced Games," which controversially permitted doping, have served as a catalyst, forcing the world of organized sports to confront the issue of athlete compensation. While the sporting spectacle itself was questionable, it undeniably brought financial disparities in athletics to the forefront.

Why did such 'doping games' have to take place for organized sports to start talking consistently about paying their athletes?

— Sebastian AuböckThe author questions the necessity of the 'Enhanced Games' to address the issue of athlete compensation in organized sports.

From a purely athletic standpoint, the "Enhanced Games" were not the revolution they claimed to be. Only one world record was officially broken: Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev in the 50-meter freestyle. However, even this record's official standing is debated, as it was set under conditions not recognized by traditional sporting bodies.

For years, athletes were told that the honor of competing for their country was enough reward for their hard work.

— Sebastian AuböckThe author criticizes the long-standing narrative that athletes should be satisfied with the honor of participation, while the IOC profits immensely.

Financially, however, the event proved compelling. Athletes received substantial rewards, including a base salary of several thousand dollars and a $250,000 prize for winners. This financial success underscores a persistent weakness within the Olympic movement: the inadequate compensation of its athletes, who are often told that the honor of competing is reward enough.

You don't have to approve of the Enhanced Games to recognize that the financial aspect is a weak point of Olympic-organized sports.

— Sebastian AuböckThe author points out that the financial shortcomings of organized sports are evident, regardless of one's view on the 'Enhanced Games'.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced plans to provide a $10,000 subsidy to Olympic participants, funded by a quadrennial fund. This move, while seemingly progressive, comes after years of prioritizing massive broadcast rights deals and sponsorships over direct athlete remuneration. The timing suggests that the "Enhanced Games," despite their dubious nature, acted as a much-needed wake-up call for the IOC, demonstrating that athlete payment models require urgent attention.

One can call it learning ability. One can also call it pressure. It is probably both.

— Sebastian AuböckThe author reflects on the IOC's recent decision to pay athletes, attributing it to both the committee's capacity to learn and external pressure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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