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.

  • originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com
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    3 months ago

    i feel like these athletes need to have a plan B for real jobs.

    the olympics have been bastardized into a corporate for-profit orgy. theres no honor in these games. its sad that these humans who feel they are accomplishing something dont see the truth; theyre just tools that can be discarded.

    • Ogmios@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      its sad that these humans who feel they are accomplishing something dont see the truth; theyre just tools that can be discarded.

      They are accomplishing something. It’s just not recognized by the greedy fuckwits exploiting their achievements for profit, other than for it’s ability to convince people to endure their bullshit in exchange for the chance to watch them.

    • cynthorpe@discuss.online
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      3 months ago

      Well, the plan is to get corporate sponsors. That’s always been the road.

      Edit: always as in the past ~50 years.

      • originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com
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        3 months ago

        really? which corps sponsored the roman olympics?

        or is this a recent requirement because humans dont actually put money into humanities without some profit incentive?

            • cynthorpe@discuss.online
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              3 months ago

              The comment was never not okay. It’s a comment. Don’t be mad that I thought to be more specific about my comment before you got a chance to take your bad day out on a random person. I suggest taking your crappy attitude somewhere else. I assure you, no satisfaction will be gained by talking to me.

              • originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com
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                3 months ago

                i was expecting a discussion on the poisoning of the olympics by corporate entities, but all you did was point out it is ‘new’ as if that matters somehow

                I assure you, no satisfaction will be gained by talking to me.

                too late, but i get it; youre done. no prob

        • Kaboom@reddthat.com
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          3 months ago

          In the Roman Olympics, only rich people could compete. Now it’s better, not perfect, but better.

    • Auli@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      I’m wondering about viewership this year. Nobody I know is watching or talking about the games. Besides what hits social media like the Turkish shooter.

      • bassomitron@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        It’s extremely popular. Every single business I’ve walked into has had it on the TV and all of my friend/family group chats and coworkers have been talking about it. It wouldn’t be making hundreds of millions in ad revenue if nobody was watching it.

    • kamenoko@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      You can’t win if you have a plan B. Especially in prestige events. Either the athlete is fully supported by their countries association or they hope to get top 30.