In 1952, 16-year-old Joan Harrison* became South Africa’s first Olympic swimming gold medalist when she won the 100m backstroke event at the Helsinki Games. She returned to South Africa and received a hero’s welcome in her hometown of East London. In recognition of what she had achieved, a local supplier gave her a new stove.
Sporting authorities instructed her to return the stove due to her status as an amateur athlete. Seven decades later, Jo-Ané van Dyk brought pride to the nation by winning a silver medal in the women’s javelin at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She privately funded her athletics career and reached the highest pinnacle of her sport on her own.
She is not alone. The Proteas men’s hockey team had to crowdfund and many of our athletes depleted all financial sources to be at the global sporting showcase. Not much has changed in 72 years.
However, while that may be true for athletes, it is a different picture for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). According to its most recent annual report, the IOC earned $7.8-billion in the Olympic cycle of 2017 to 2021.
The Tokyo Olympics of 2021 alone generated $4.2-billion, equating to $370,000 for every one of the 11,300 competitors. The primary source of this revenue is broadcast rights.
Matt Graham, the head of the UNI World Players Association, says the only direct benefit athletes receive from the IOC is through the Olympic Scholarship programme which offers support and assistance to some athletes, and equa.