How is the age in the Olympics taken into consideration?

Question

Sorry the question is poorly asked. But my question is, the rule is that you must be 16 years in order to be in the Olympics, but how is it that their are competitors who are 14 or 15? Like Tom Daley from Great Britain who is 14?

Answer 1

you can be 15, but you have to turn 16 in the year that the olympics take place. e.g. if there is a 15-year-old in the beijing olympics now, he/she needs to turn 16 before 2009.

i don't know how a 14-year-old got in.

Answer 2

It probably depends on the sport.  Like, gymnastics is rather dangerous for 14 year olds, because it can hurt their growing bones, while diving may not be as dangerous.  But I think everyone has to be at least 13/14.  

Answer 3

My friend, it depends on the sport you're participating in. Diving and Gymnastic have different rule in regard to age restriction.

Check the rules for both FINA and IFG, the governing bodies for each of the sports.

Good luck

Answer 4

No restrictions but different organization ie diving and gymnastics has restrictions while track and field has none.

Answer 5

Depends on the sport. In my opinion its BS. One can say a 16-20 year old has an advantage in certain events over 40-50 year olds, should then 16-20 year olds be banned? If you are going to have an Olympics to find the best in the world, then shouldn't the best in the world be allowed to compete?

Answer 6

The 16 year old age minimum is a requirement in gymnastics, which means the athletes have to be turing 16 in 2008 so there were some 15 year olds who competed, however other sports have younger age limits i believe the minimum age for diving is 14

Answer 7

The rules vary by sport.

Gymnastics you have to be 16 by the end of the year.

In diving and swimming I think that 3 memebers are allowed to be under 16. But i'm not sure.

Answer 8

American are total losers - Sour-grape sore losers!