NationStates Jolt Archive

The U.S. currently has 5 gold medals, 2 silver, and a bronze, ranking itself 1st in front of Russia, Germany, and Austria respectively at the moment.

But I wonder, does a nation's overall result have to do with who pays for the training of Olympians?

And does anyone pay?

In Australia, the government has a department for sports, which runs academies and the like. The taxpayer pays for it, probably alongside sponsors and private donations.

But then, sporting success is pretty important to Australians.

And w00t! We rule Women's Luge! (What a dangerous sport :eek: )

often the athletes are members of the military, who are in special sport-units. so the government pays them.

Some people spend into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for training.

I saw a link somewhere the other day about the cost of training for three different events. No wait, not a link. It was a magazine. Maybe I can find it. It said something to the effect that if you want to begin snowboard lessons for your child in order to prepare them for an Olympic career, it comes to about $275k. Where do the poor Olympians get their training?

I have a friend who is trying to train her daughter for Olympic gymnastics, between the gymnastics classes, the dance classes, and the cheer classes, they spend over 45K a year "training her" oh did I mention the poor kid is only 5.....

Some people spend into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for training.

I saw a link somewhere the other day about the cost of training for three different events. No wait, not a link. It was a magazine. Maybe I can find it. It said something to the effect that if you want to begin snowboard lessons for your child in order to prepare them for an Olympic career, it comes to about $275k. Where do the poor Olympians get their training?
Damn that wealth and the privilege that it brings. We need to figure out a way to make Olympic training available to everyone. I think returning Phys Ed to public schools ought to do it.

Some people spend into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for training.

I saw a link somewhere the other day about the cost of training for three different events. No wait, not a link. It was a magazine. Maybe I can find it. It said something to the effect that if you want to begin snowboard lessons for your child in order to prepare them for an Olympic career, it comes to about $275k. Where do the poor Olympians get their training?
Considering that nations like Estonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Latvia are all gaining themselves some medals, it looks like they're getting it from SOMEWHERE.

Probably intense, cheap training. Which is the best kind I suppose.

Considering that nations like Estonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Latvia are all gaining themselves some medals, it looks like they're getting it from SOMEWHERE.

Probably intense, cheap training. Which is the best kind I suppose.

Precisely....look at Rocky Balboa!

In Canada, you can't walk more than a few blocks without some penniless Olympian hitting you up for spare change. It's sad, really.

I have a friend who is trying to train her daughter for Olympic gymnastics, between the gymnastics classes, the dance classes, and the cheer classes, they spend over 45K a year "training her" oh did I mention the poor kid is only 5.....
practically speaking all olympians get started that early. (im sure there are some that dont, but in general they do) that means its always the parent's dream not the child.

at least they have stopped making the gymnasts be anorexic. it was so abusive that no responsible parent would ever encouraged their daughter to do it. now they can at least eat even if they never get an actual childhood.