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submitted 4 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/news@lemmy.world

Dire financial straits are leading droves of Olympic athletes to sell images of their bodies to subscribers on OnlyFans — known for sexually explicit content — to sustain their dreams of gold at the Games. As they struggle to make ends meet, a spotlight is being cast on an Olympics funding system that watchdog groups condemn as “broken,” claiming most athletes “can barely pay their rent.”

The Olympics, the world’s biggest sporting stage, bring in billions of dollars in TV rights, ticket sales and sponsorship, but most athletes must fend for themselves financially.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not express concern about the situation. When asked by The Associated Press about athletes turning to OnlyFans, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said, “I would assume that athletes, like all citizens, are allowed to do what they can.”

Watching his sponsorships dry up and facing mounting costs, Jack Laugher was among the pantheon of Olympic athletes using the often-controversial platform to get to the Games — or simply survive.

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

They should be funded by the IOC. Right now, they're being paid by their country (if they want to have a chance of medaling).

They also rarely train inside that country or with a trainer from that country. Many of them go to the U.S. for training and stay there for years.

[-] nonailsleft@lemm.ee -2 points 4 months ago

And how do you suggest the IOC should get the money to pay for all those 'employees' ?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 10 points 4 months ago

From the article:

The Olympics, the world’s biggest sporting stage, bring in billions of dollars in TV rights, ticket sales and sponsorship, but most athletes must fend for themselves financially.

[-] nonailsleft@lemm.ee 0 points 4 months ago

Ok, so the IOC should be taking that revenue away from the host country and expect them to pay for the infrastructure and staff at an even bigger loss?

Which country or city would want to do that?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

It doesn't say the host country is the one that makes the money. And I'm sure they can spare a billion or two for the athletes.

[-] nonailsleft@lemm.ee -1 points 4 months ago

What doesn't say the host country is the one that makes the money?

The Olympics is already operating at a net loss, with the host city/country basically footing the bill in exchange for publicity.

Do you think these cities would be happy to pay for 20.000 extra 'employees' for four years?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

The article linked to above suggests otherwise.

[-] nonailsleft@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago
[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago
[-] nonailsleft@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

Where in your source does it say that?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

I’m sorry you are unable to read an AP article. Hopefully this will help:

The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental body based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It generates 91% of its income from selling broadcast rights (61%) and sponsorships (30%). Income for the latest four-year cycle of Winter and Summer Games ending with the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 was $7.6 billion. The IOC says it returns 90% of its income back into sports, although athletes directly get only a small slice. There may be a move afoot to change that.

[-] nonailsleft@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

I can read it, that's why I asked. That figure would be very much in the same ballpark. 7.6B * 0.9 / 1826 days = 3.67 M per day or 4.61M when it would have been 4 years

this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2024
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