When did it become a rule that professional athletes could compete in the Olympics?

Question

Growing up I was under the impression that NBA stars and other higly paid fools could not compete in the olympics. Was i misinformed??? It's all about the benjamins I am sure......

Answer 1

In 1986 the International Olympic Committee changed its charter to allow professional athletes to compete.

The decision wasn't made so that "highly paid fools" could earn more "benjamins" as you so ignorantly put it. It was made so that all the world's great male and female athletes could participate.

Answer 2

It is up to that's sports governing body not the olympics

Answer 3

Pros in all events including tennis . Think it changed about 12 years ago  

Answer 4

With the advent of the Dream Team where Michael Jordan and others played basketball.I think it was 1992.

Answer 5

as soon as some drongo professional tennis player decided he also wanted the chance to win an olympic gold!!

Answer 6

It actually all started with hockey in the Winter Olympics. The Russians were sending their top athletes from their own hockey leagues and they were far better than the rest of the world as far as amateurs go. It then trickled down to the Summer Games.

Answer 7

Pros were first allowed in the Olympics in 1992.  The idea was, that the olympics should have the best athletes in the world, period.  In prior games, many countries, most notably soviet - bloc countries would bring athletes to the Olympics that were, while "technically" amateur athletes as in they were not paid for their sport, or part of a professional league, the most definitely were not amateurs.   The soviet system would provide a very comfortable living for these athletes, but since they were not "paid" they were still classified as amateurs.  

So for Basketball, we were bringing college kids to face guys 5 - 10 years older who were bigger, strong, and more experienced.  It was never a level playing field.

So if the point of the olympics were showcase the best athletes the world has to offer.  Why not bring the best of the best?

Answer 8

Russia and other European countries were sending professional athletes to the Olympics for decades before the USOC put together the Dream Team in 1992.