Why must you be 16 years old or older to participate in the Olympics?

Question

please do not bring up the girls who are repesenting China. i've had enough of that c**p from my own mother

Answer 1

After the famous Romanian gymnist received 4 perfect scores, the OCI decided that younger people had an advantage in gymnastics because of their undeveloped bodies and their flexibility.

Answer 2

Because those are the rules...AND rules are rules!!

Answer 3

the age limit depends on the event.

it is to prevent injury, and stunting the growth of athletes, and to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on young people.

it's for the athlete's best interest.

Answer 4

The reason why is because if you are underaged then you have an unfair advantage because you have an undeveloped body.  In gymnastics it is a POSITIVE to be underdeveloped and short.  It makes it easier to balance and you can spin more since you don't have to tuck in as much to do flips.  

I have a sister that was in gymnastic and a really good friend who is in it.  My sister was short and underdeveloped and the girl I know is short but developed as little as possible.  They can tell you that the younger and shorter, the better.

Why do you think there aren't any tall girls or girls with a somewhat large bust?  Most of the girls in gymnastics are short, skinny and have small breast.  I am not being perverted but it makes it easier if you are smaller.

Its for the exact same reason horse jockeys have age limits.  The lighter the rider, the less stress the horse has on its back making the horse go faster.  If they let young people be horse jockeys then that would be an unfair advantage because they are naturally light.

Answer 5

its actually 14 for swim/dive, and 16 for other sports

but im not sure why, i guess so they are old enough to handle the pressure and burden

and not get tired out as easily as a little child.

Answer 6

i dont no but i hate that.its so remedial

Answer 7

because if ur younger.Not all of ur bones and muscles might have developed yet.

Answer 8

Because before the age of 16 girls are not fully mature. (some girl so mature faster but a vast majority don't) When your bones and joint are  not fully developed, you are usually more limber and flexable, so you can twist and turn and bounce around a lot easier which would lead to an advantage in the gymnastic competition. its much like, if you see a 4 year old, they can do a lot of the flips that really good gymnastics can do. Yet by the time they are 16-17, unless they have been practicing like crazy their whole lives, they will not be able to do the same stunts they once could.

Answer 9

well because young girls have a advantage over older ladies all the countries would be tempted to bring 12-14 year olds. it will no longer be womens gymnastics. they may as well make it the junior olympics then.  

Answer 10

Gymnastics is a good example of why youngins shouldn't be allowed in, but since you don't want to hear about gymnastics I will use Mao Asada as an example. Mao Asada is the world champion figure skater. In 2005 she could have gone to the Winter Olympics, but the committee said no because she was 15. The committee said she was too young to endure Olympic level training everyday and that it wouldn't be good for her body. There were outcries from the figure skating community,  but the committee still said no. Basically a lot of these sports are really hard on the body. There are a lot of injuries that can happen, very serious injuries: torn ACLs, torn meniscus, ankle injuries. It's a lot of stress for a still developing body to take. It's a health concern and a concern about the well being of the athlete.  

Answer 11

Gymnastics is the only event that has that rule and there is no minimium age for other events.

Answer 12

I don't know if that is the rule for all the sports. But in Gymnastics by rule you must be 16 or turn 16 the year of the games. I believe that the U.S. men's diving team has a 14 year old.

More to the point if you are tired of the China thing then why post this question? As far as I know they are the only ones that anyone is talking about.

If you really wanted a good answer to this question you should have waited till the games were over. At least by then the China situation would be out of a lot of peoples heads.

That is just my opinion, take if you want. You have the right to ask any question you want.  

Answer 13

closer to the ground more flexible........ think do you think a 6'9''  person is good  at gymnastics

Answer 14

it's only in Gymnastics............

i don't know why.......but its the only event i think that requires you be a certain age.......

i think its for safety reasons

Answer 15

because when you are younger you are very flexible which makes gymnastics incredibly easier say for a 10 year old chinese girl.