Olympics - are professional athletes interested any more?

[Deleted User]

I've got to say I was disappointed to hear Rory Mcilroy's comments about golf in the Olympics. Not only is he not going, he had some very negative things to say about golf as part of the Olympic games, saying he wouldn't watch it, and focus on "things that matter". A few other golfers have also pulled out of the games.
I have to ask, if this attitude reflects the opinion of golfers in general, why include the sport in the Olympics anyway? I'm sure there are plenty of other sports, such as squash, where players don't get paid millions in prize money, which would be more worthy of inclusion.

And now there are tennis players who've declared they're not going. Another sport where prize money is astronomical at the top level. Fear of the zika virus is the excuse, but I can't help thinking that their real reason is because they aren't getting prize money for winning. Question is, have the Olympics become irrelevant to highly paid sports people now?

Maybe we should give real amateurs a chance - people who are participating not because of the financial rewards, but for the actual honour of representing their country, and the challenges of competing against the best in the world.

It seems to me as if money in sport has not only led to widespread drugs cheating, but there's an erosion of what the Olympic games is all about. What do you think?

 

[bcrichster]

OK.. First off, golf really doesn't have a place in ANY Olympics. Ever. It's not a real sport and everyone knows it, Lmfao! Now on to the real stuff:
Zika virus has infected an astronomical amount of people and no one wants to bring that or anything home to "whomever". These ppl are in the prime of their lives and certainly don't want it ruined by invasive vampiric bugs. I'd sit out any medal to ensure mine & my family's survival. I'm leaving FL as soon as I can, believe that.

 

[Deleted User]

Djokovic and the Williams sisters out in the first round.

It's like they just don't care!!

 

[mikedt]

Frankly I thought the Olympics was going as expected after two days.

China Central Television coverage seems to be rather focused on China.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

OS. Gotta compose myself.

 

[MLSS]

If an athlete doesn't want to compete that's fine with me.
I only pay attention to swimming, Track and field, and Woman's Gymnastics anyways.
Some people just don't care about winning medals at the Olympics and that's okay. This isn't a new phenomenon lol

 

[Deleted User]

Goodness me one of the male gymnasts broke his leg on landing a vault. Don't Google it if you're at all squeamish, it's like something out of a horror movie. I saw photos of it accidentally and have to say it made me feel a little queasy.
Poor guy.