Pro Athletes Now Cleared to Compete in the Olympics

In a significant shift, professional athletes like LeBron James are now eligible to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. This change is rooted in evolving International Olympic Committee (IOC) policies.

Historically, the Olympics were reserved for amateur athletes. This restriction led to longstanding debates about equity and competition. However, things changed markedly in the late 20th century.

VERIFY reader Victoria inquired about the inclusion of professional athletes in the Olympics. She questioned, “I thought Olympics are only for amateur or non-professionals.”

The Question:

Can professional athletes compete in the Olympics?

The Answer:

Yes, professional athletes are allowed to compete in the Olympics.

For decades, stringent rules barred professionals from Olympic competition. This restriction began to loosen between 1971 and 1988. By 1988, the IOC had shifted responsibility for determining eligibility from itself to individual sports federations.

The Olympic Charter was amended to accommodate these changes. Instead of formally approving professional participation, the IOC removed amateurism requirements. This transfer of authority effectively opened the door for professionals.

Today’s Olympic Charter does not require athletes to be amateurs. Instead, each International Federation (IF) sets the rules for Olympic participation, including qualification criteria.

The International Basketball Federation first allowed professionals in 1992. Similarly, professional boxers made their Olympic debut in 2016. These decisions highlight the flexible and federated nature of modern Olympic qualification.