Are professional players banned from all Olympic sports?

Question

How come Kobe Bryant's playing?Isn't he pro?And I think it would be unfair if the rules--I don't know this for sure at all --permit people to drop pro status before the Olympics and then get back to pro status post-Olympics.Seeking a clarification in the second part of my question as well.

Answer 1

What makes a pro a pro?  Does playing a sport all your life make you a pro, cause most of the players have been doing just that?  Whoever is in the olympics is a pro.  

Answer 2

Most sports now allow professionals to compete in the Olympics.  The only exception that I am 100% sure of is Boxing, but most of the combat sports (Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo) are primarily amateurs.

Answer 3

AMATURES DONT GET PAID TO DO THEIR SPORT...

Pro hockey and basketball players participate in the Olympics.

Answer 4

They were totally banned up until sometimes in the 60's I believe. Could have been early 70's. You haven't watched any Olympics for the last 20 years I guess.

People like Carl Lewis were classified as pro's as they accepted endorsements and fees to run - and thus could train full time.

Answer 5

Pros have been able to play Olympic basketball since 1992.

Answer 6

I think that applies only in boxing and not all olympic sports. Professionals are used in sports as football, basketball etc. you have to go with your very best...

Answer 7

But then again, how do they define pro? How do they define amateur? By their paycheck? By their experience in the field? The number of battle won and lost?

Answer 8

I am not sure if those rules stand for basketball, since all of the players on the different countries get paid..

But it was like that for hockey and baseball

Answer 9

To answer your first question - this was true at the beginning of the Olympic Games and continued for many decades, but not today.  The decision was made (I believe by Avery Brundage, head of the IOC) to officially lift the ban on professional athletes, and open the Games to the best athletes available, regardless of their status.

Kobe Bryant is indeed a pro - and so is the entire USA Men's Basketball team.  There are numerous other examples (such as the professional tennis players competing for their home countries).  It is not unusual nor even very new.  It's just the way things are.

A "professional", in general, is someone who's sport is considered their full-time "job".  If playing your sport is the primary source of your income - how you make your living - then your job title is considered "professional athlete".

Re: your second question - someone typically does not alternate between being "pro" and being "amateur".  Once you become a pro, you keep that status throughout your playing career.  When it is over, you are not considered an "amateur", but a "former pro" athlete.  So professional status is not something that is dropped.

  

Hope this helps.