What percent of the athletes in Beijing 2008 are professional athletes?

Question

I know for sure that many of them are not professional but students with government support or other. And I'm not talking just about the Chinese but Athletes in general.

Answer 1

Impossible to answer, since few get paid directly to train and compete, but many get support in the form of endorsements, sponsorships, equipment, etc.

It would depend on how you define professional.   I think even the IRS would have a tough time with this one.