Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Why has peoples' attitude changed about professionalism in sports?
Advertisements
Solution
People’s attitude towards professionalism in sports has changed considerably over the years. Earlier, professional sportspersons were generally associated with the lower classes because they competed for money, while amateurs were usually people who could afford to play for fun.
Gradually, professionalism became more accepted. The growth of television, sponsorships and commercial sports enabled professional athletes to earn large amounts of money. The attitude towards professionalism also changed in the Olympic Games. Earlier, only amateur athletes were allowed to participate. However, some athletes received payments secretly, making it difficult to distinguish between amateurs and professionals. Therefore, the IOC eventually removed the word “amateur” from its rules.
Today, professional athletes are widely accepted and can receive benefits such as sponsorships, scholarships and better training facilities. Thus, professionalism has become an important and respected part of modern sports.
