Dire financial straits are leading droves of Olympic athletes to sell images of their bodies to subscribers on OnlyFans — known for sexually explicit content — to sustain their dreams of gold at the Games.

Dire financial straits are leading droves of Olympic athletes to sell images of their bodies to subscribers on OnlyFans — known for sexually explicit content — to sustain their dreams of gold at the Games. As they struggle to make ends meet, a spotlight is being cast on an Olympics funding system that watchdog groups condemn as “broken,” claiming most athletes “can barely pay their rent.”

The Olympics, the world’s biggest sporting stage, bring in billions of dollars in TV rights, ticket sales and sponsorship, but most athletes must fend for themselves financially.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not express concern about the situation. When asked by The Associated Press about athletes turning to OnlyFans, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said, “I would assume that athletes, like all citizens, are allowed to do what they can.”

Watching his sponsorships dry up and facing mounting costs, Jack Laugher was among the pantheon of Olympic athletes using the often-controversial platform to get to the Games — or simply survive.

  • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
    84·
    3 months ago

    Problem is that people in the Olympics aren’t supposed to be professional athletes. IOW they can’t make any money off their skills. I think the Olympic rules have sought to reinforce that not because they really don’t want paid athletes, just that they want everyone surrounding the Olympic entertainment industry to get paid instead. Networks, venues, vendors, etc.

    • ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      9·
      3 months ago

      The IOC hasn’t required amateur status since 1988. Some sports still do, as the IOC mostly relies on the governing bodies for each sport to set the rules, but for the Olympics as a whole, that’s a relic of the past.

      • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
        3·
        3 months ago

        You’re right. I knew the stance had changed over time thanks to things like the US wanting to beat the USSR. I didn’t realize it had changed so much. Nonetheless, unless the participant is a big star, they may not get paid much at all, or only if they medal.

      • Microw@lemm.ee
        2·
        3 months ago

        Yes, but the point is that you don’t make money from participating in the Olympics. You might get some sponsorships or advertising deals, things like that. But you can’t build a monetary career on being an athlete at the Olympics.

        Therefore you will only see those pro sports people there who are really ambitious about wanting to get a medal. A successful sports person who isn’t interested in that will most likely not participate at all.

    • skulblaka@sh.itjust.works
      3·
      3 months ago

      I just watched LeBron James play in the Olympic basketball gold medal game earlier this afternoon so this most definitely is not the case anymore

      • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
        8·
        3 months ago

        We saw professional players enter the Olympics in the ‘70s and of course the biggest surge was in the ‘80s. Why? The US wanted to dominate the Olympics against the USSR. You mention basketball, they don’t get paid by the NBA or anyone else. US stars will get bonuses for participating from their major sponsors like Nike, and of course if they do well, Gerri g their name associated with a big Olympic win is great for branding contracts. Other stars may get paid per-medal won.

        So no, they don’t get paid like a professional player does, but they do make money. I’ll also offer that the big name stars are going to be making the real contract money. That’s rare for the rest of the competitors. Famously, medals have ended up on eBay because the winners needed cash.

        • skulblaka@sh.itjust.works
          3·
          3 months ago

          I think I misunderstood your initial statement as well, to be fair. I took that to mean “people who play professionally and make money from it aren’t allowed” and not what I now believe you meant which is “people who play in the Olympics are not paid to do so”.

          Which makes sense, it seems strange to bar a professional basketball player from the Olympics simply because that’s how they make their paycheck. I misunderstood the initial statement and didn’t think about it long enough to notice before making my reply.