Why can professional athletes compete in the olympics?

Question

seems like basketball is the only olympic event (that ive seen) that allows professional athletes, why is that?

Answer 1

They used to only have amateur athletes in the Olympics.. the problem was, is that for a lot of countries such as the former soviet union and china, these athlete's were not really "amateur"  they were state sponsored, as in they didn't have a job, but they weren't technically "paid" for thier sport.    Were we would bring college basketball players, they would bring gigantic guys  5 - 10 years older.  This is why they dominated Hockey, and Basketball for years.   The IOC finally decided, if we advertise the Olympics as having the best of the best, we need the best of the best, so they dropped the pro restriction.  However for boxers it is still only amateur  

Answer 2

Mainly every sport allows pros. The only one I can think of off the top of my head that doesn't allow pros is boxing

Answer 3

they're a citizen like everyone else.

Answer 4

anyone can be in the olympics.

what do you think michael phelps is??

Answer 5

In the 1970's, the amatuer status requirements were removed from Olympic charter which left the decision to allow professional athletes to international federation of each sport.  Currently, Boxing and Baseball are the only two sports in the Summer Olympic games that do not allow professional athletes.  Whereas, Ice Hockey is one of the only Winter Olympic sports that allows professional athletes.

Answer 6

>>>seems like basketball is the only olympic event (that ive seen) that allows professional athletes>>>

Not true.  

In men's soccer, all players (except for three exceptions per team) have to be under 23 -- but they can be professionals, and many of them are.

Same in baseball -- a country can put anybody it wants, professional or not, on their team.

Most of the handball players play in professional leagues in Europe and Asia.

Same for the volleyball players.

In the Winter Games, most of the ice hockey players are professionals.

And so on.

.

Answer 7

Tennis? Swimming?...I could go on...