How are Olympic ages calculated?

Question

Okay, I know that Asian culture counts time in the womb as part of your age. For example, a baby born is 1 already. Also a baby born on Dec. 31st would be 2 the next day, from what I understand. Western culture starts the clock at birth, so when it comes to the Olympics, how do they measure with respect to both cultures?

I was thinking about this after I read an article on the scandal about the Chinese Gymnast Team and how some of them may be younger than the limit...

I searched around on google but couldn't come up with anything. Any insight?

Answer 1

All that is needed to prove your age is a passport. Whatever age is printed on your passport is what the IOC accepts as your true age. And so does the FIG (International Gymnastic Federation). As far as they are concerned, since the Chinese gymnasts have passports saying they are 16, they are 16.

Answer 2

olympics probably go by what is presented on a birth certificate. Its not like pro baseball, where a Dominican guy makes up his age to get a bigger signing bonus. Having someone's age exact in the Olympics is not important.

Answer 3

That's why they should abolish that rule since they can't do age tests anyway. Why create a rule that you can't control and implement? Totally idiotic.

Anyone knows that passports and birth certificates can be falsified.