Well I know mass sporting events were co-opted into being displays of nationalism (unifying the classes under a common cause regardless of where they sit in the stands), so that might be a contributing factor.
At its beginning, the modern olympics were only for “amateurs”, meaning no professionals were allowed.
Did this mean no professional pole vaulters could compete? No it meant if you were a day laborer you had an unfair advantage because you worked out during your job.
And now we look at the olympics and it’s only rich kids who have enough free time to practice their sport more than a full time job.
Well I know mass sporting events were co-opted into being displays of nationalism (unifying the classes under a common cause regardless of where they sit in the stands), so that might be a contributing factor.
This is why I despise the Olympics.
At its beginning, the modern olympics were only for “amateurs”, meaning no professionals were allowed.
Did this mean no professional pole vaulters could compete? No it meant if you were a day laborer you had an unfair advantage because you worked out during your job.
And now we look at the olympics and it’s only rich kids who have enough free time to practice their sport more than a full time job.