Olympic Games spring up on us yet again, after every two to four rears. Whether or not professional athletes should be allowed to compete in the games is one recurring topic, however. Events that involve the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, and soccer, this discussion is rampant.
Olympics are a worldwide event meant for healthy competition and to bring countries together thereby promoting world peace and harmony. Olympics was held in high regard but the ideals seems to have declined somewhat. This has now become an arena for the world’s highest paid premier athletes in a highly competitive atmosphere.
For up and coming sports and the companies, the Olympics have become a sort of marketing tool.
The ratings that the Olympics used to bring earlier are lost now. Professional athlete’s inclusion into the Olympics helps their ratings rise. Lesser-known sports that are showcased at these events are helped by the popular athletes thereby bringing the world audience’s attention and appreciation.
Professional athletes set the bar for competition at the Olympic Games apart from all the marketing purposes aside. How can you have some events with professionals like Michael Phelps dominating the waters, and have other events that only take amateur players? For Olympic Qualifiers, it sets an odd standard. It makes sense for each country to watch sports competition at its highest level and send the best of the best to compete in Olympics. To be labeled “to good for the Olympics” puts the wrong kind of picture in people’s heads. All competitors meeting on equal grounds to battle out for the Gold and the Olympics should be the peak of sports competition.If one looks at the hockey game previews in the perspective of Olympics then it is one of the few sports that has held the bar at a higher level for this quadrennial extravaganza.
For World Peace, the Olympics provide a small solution, but they are also a collaboration of venues meant to increase national pride. All countries have professionals that can compete and in the light of the times, professional athletes can leave a good impression on the future of the games.