Should diversity be a factor in Olympic team selection?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in selection, but training and support could be increased to support diversity in the pipeline. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, train full time, etc. More support of diverse athletes while training could create a more diverse team in the end.

This exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in selection, but training and support could be increased to support diversity in the pipeline. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, train full time, etc. More support of diverse athletes while training could create a more diverse team in the end.

Nobody gets any support up front, that being the first 10-15 years in the pipeline. Doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in selection, but training and support could be increased to support diversity in the pipeline. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, train full time, etc. More support of diverse athletes while training could create a more diverse team in the end.

This is such a good point. Our Olympic team will be stronger if the pipeline isn't dependent on personal wealth. Take the case of soccer. The USMNT should be SO MUCH stronger than it is, but the pipeline is notoriously screwed up by the barriers to entry for talented kids and youth inherent in our "travel league" system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in selection, but training and support could be increased to support diversity in the pipeline. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, train full time, etc. More support of diverse athletes while training could create a more diverse team in the end.

^^^This

A reasonable opportunity at exposing sports as broadly as possible is really important. Cost of entry is prohibitive for many sports and if those barriers can be shifted down that would certainly help. But I can't think of any ways to make bobsledding or luge cheaper.

[Anonymous]

I think the more interesting question is around what counts as nationality. There are tons of Americans competing for other countries. One of the Israeli pairs skaters last night is from Rochester NY. A number of American distance runners are Kenyans who get expedited citizenship through the Army.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a bit old school, but shouldn't the fastest time/best athlete always win, regardless of their background?

They did, you racist tool.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

The Olympics were never about the best athletes. The rules were set up to exclude professional athletes. Amateurs athletes were rich people who did not work. They did not want the competition from the lower class professional athletes. Also they take people from every country. So they already selects on diverse country of origins and not the best athletes. Many times the second best athletes will be from the same country, but will not go to the Olympics. While someone who is not ranked will attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in selection, but training and support could be increased to support diversity in the pipeline. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, train full time, etc. More support of diverse athletes while training could create a more diverse team in the end.

This is such a good point. Our Olympic team will be stronger if the pipeline isn't dependent on personal wealth. Take the case of soccer. The USMNT should be SO MUCH stronger than it is, but the pipeline is notoriously screwed up by the barriers to entry for talented kids and youth inherent in our "travel league" system.

Really agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in selection, but training and support could be increased to support diversity in the pipeline. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, train full time, etc. More support of diverse athletes while training could create a more diverse team in the end.

This, this, this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Olympics were never about the best athletes. The rules were set up to exclude professional athletes. Amateurs athletes were rich people who did not work. They did not want the competition from the lower class professional athletes. Also they take people from every country. So they already selects on diverse country of origins and not the best athletes. Many times the second best athletes will be from the same country, but will not go to the Olympics. While someone who is not ranked will attend.

But that's changed, with some variations by sport. Look at basketball - it's all pros. The top skiers are sponsored by red bull, barilla, putnam and others. Chloe Kim has sponsors out the wazoo at 17. Shaun White is his own brand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in selection, but training and support could be increased to support diversity in the pipeline. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, train full time, etc. More support of diverse athletes while training could create a more diverse team in the end.

This is such a good point. Our Olympic team will be stronger if the pipeline isn't dependent on personal wealth. Take the case of soccer. The USMNT should be SO MUCH stronger than it is, but the pipeline is notoriously screwed up by the barriers to entry for talented kids and youth inherent in our "travel league" system.

The weakness in the MENS soccer team is not due to the travel team system.

The weakness stems from Americans lack of interest in soccer as a sport, compared to men in the rest of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Olympics were never about the best athletes. The rules were set up to exclude professional athletes. Amateurs athletes were rich people who did not work. They did not want the competition from the lower class professional athletes. Also they take people from every country. So they already selects on diverse country of origins and not the best athletes. Many times the second best athletes will be from the same country, but will not go to the Olympics. While someone who is not ranked will attend.

But that's changed, with some variations by sport. Look at basketball - it's all pros. The top skiers are sponsored by red bull, barilla, putnam and others. Chloe Kim has sponsors out the wazoo at 17. Shaun White is his own brand.

I'm not sure where the line is. I'm fine for a teenager like Kim to be considered professional because she has sponsors. Otherwise, her ability to train would depend on her parents' wealth/ However, professional basketball in the Olympics takes all the joy and fun out of it.

[Anonymous]

Please give even one example of when this happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Olympics were never about the best athletes. The rules were set up to exclude professional athletes. Amateurs athletes were rich people who did not work. They did not want the competition from the lower class professional athletes. Also they take people from every country. So they already selects on diverse country of origins and not the best athletes. Many times the second best athletes will be from the same country, but will not go to the Olympics. While someone who is not ranked will attend.

This is pretty much a myth. The Olympics have been professionalized for decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in selection, but training and support could be increased to support diversity in the pipeline. It takes a lot of money to buy the equipment, train full time, etc. More support of diverse athletes while training could create a more diverse team in the end.

This is such a good point. Our Olympic team will be stronger if the pipeline isn't dependent on personal wealth. Take the case of soccer. The USMNT should be SO MUCH stronger than it is, but the pipeline is notoriously screwed up by the barriers to entry for talented kids and youth inherent in our "travel league" system.

The weakness in the MENS soccer team is not due to the travel team system.

The weakness stems from Americans lack of interest in soccer as a sport, compared to men in the rest of the world.

No, the weakness stems from ANGLO WHITE Americans' lack of interest in the sport. There are so many talented young people playing soccer, many of whom are first generation Americans, but they don't have the resources to get into the pipeline.