Isn't the Olympics about the best person winning?

Question

Why the age restrictions in some events? If kids can out-perform adults, why deprive them of the recognition? If the IOC thinks a particular event may lead to child abuse, I say scrap the whole event. I don't see see any upper-age limit on games preventing grandma's from participating. Will that not lead to senior citizen abuse?

Answer 1

Barring genetic miracles, it'd be physically impossible for Grandpa to break Michael Phelps' swimming world records.  By the same turn, medical experts world-wide all agree that Olympic age restrictions for younger athletes must be in place.

Why is simple: the physical conditioning a certain sport demands athletes can be physically damaging to developing young bodies---causing, in some instances, irreparable damage.

This question leads up to the He Kexin age controversy.  

Yes, I DO believe China cheated by using underage girls--dolled up with eye shadow to make them appear much older--to compete in gymnastic events.  If they're brazen enough to do that, then I can't trust them as a Superpower nation.    

I'm disappointed in the "diplomatic" IOC handling of the matter.  But then again: It's difficult to accuse the hosting Olympic country of cheating on their own soil.

For now, the age debacle has been neatly swept up as a "typo" glitch.  But in time---the truth WILL come out.

Answer 2

because then China will start training these kids right after birth.  

Answer 3

Because they have so much time. Let them have their time

Answer 4

I did a little research during the games. Up to the late '80s it was okay to go to the games if you were at least 14 or were going to turn 14 the year of the games. Then supposedly in order to better protect young athletes from injury the age limit was raised to 15. Then it was raised again in '97 to 16 for the same reasons.

Now, if you watch men's diving you know that's one instance where they let you in if you're 14 and they don't have the 16 minimum age limit. And I have to agree with something Bella Karolyi said in the first week, something you're saying as well. If someone on the junior circuit (ie younger than the minimum age limit) is able to compete at the same level as those on the senior circuit (ie everyone over the minimum age limit), then let them complain. Karolyi pointed out that countries like Romania and the former Soviet Union were pretty good at doctoring things to make their too young athletes any age they wanted. And more countries will be likely to do the same thing to get around an age limit.

This scandal with China is an example. The passports and now the birth certs all given to the IOC came from the Chinese government. Deleted records and such all contradict the "offical" documents. And we're talking records that were at one time offical. On top of that there have been facial analysts of the Chiense women's gymnastics team that looks at scientific evidence, including the size of ones pupils, to better determine age. But China provides the final evidence and whether it's true or not doesn't matter to the IOC. Just as long as it claims their of age.

Really, if there had been no age limit no one would have cared. But people say "Hey wait a minute, there's an age limit and those girls look far too young. That's not fair to those countries who actually sent people who meet the age limit."

Answer 5

Well, they created a rule that they cannot control. There's nothing wrong with creating rules as long as you can implement them. Otherwise, just scrap them. With what happened, other countries will start fielding underage gymnasts as well and just point to China as an example.

Answer 6

your pushing out the point. kids' bodies need to develop. there is an age limit set @ 16 because kids will have the growth stunted by doing to many gymnastics moves. kids can also do many more things and bend different ways then older teenagers. no one said anything about child-abuse.

Answer 7

One good reason is that early Olympic grade training can permanently damage young bodies.  

Answer 8

I don't think it is. There is too much money involved.

If some lower class kid could out run that other guy but has no way of getting sponsors how would anyone know how good he is?

What's it cost to have equipment for training?

I guess i can understand age groups and categories, but still it's the people with money who win.

Answer 9

YES.. your right.. TOtally,

yeah,.. if a kid can do better than the adults then I dont have  a problem with that. She is just born to be gifted!

Also , asian is just born to have a younger looks than their age. Just like me, im asian & im totally older than the australian caucasian groups & we are in the same level. Im older than them & some even ask me to go back in year 7 because you look younger,shorter & not matured enough in this level.!

newayz, there shouldnt be any age restriction or upper age limit!

Answer 10

The real reason is that its not very interesting to watch kids do gymnastics.  Women are more elegant and emotional and attract a larger audience.  The olympics is not immune to sponsorship and money.  If it was all ten year old girls in gymnastics  then interest would decrease dramatically.

Additionally its bad to push kids that hard, but I don;t think that is the genuine reason.  The olympics are a money machine

Answer 11

cause it shouldn't interfere with school and say, a 12 yrd old wouldn't be as strong as a 40yr old

the olympics are not only about winning but just for the whole world to forget each other's political controversial differences and unite in the world of sports cause that is the only thing that can unite man.