Olympians are turning to OnlyFans to fund dreams as they face a 'broken' finance system

girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to News@lemmy.world – 678 points – Olympians are turning to OnlyFans to fund dreams as they face a 'broken' finance system
apnews.com

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.

141

The Olympics was intended for amateur athletes, but they're all essentially professionals now if they have any chance of medaling (the Turkish shooter excepted) because they get years of specialized training. And, of course, they find endless new ways to abuse those athletes' bodies by using ever-more sophisticated ways to secretly dope them.

Half of them will be broken by the time they're 30. I'm not at all surprised that this is what they have to resort to.

And the Olympics being for "amateurs" was a deliberate effort by the Olympic committee when the modern games were started to exclude the working classes from competing.

The whole "best of the best" is just branding. The Olympics needs serious reform.

Yeah, by "amateurs" they meant wealthy men who didn't work and so had spare time to get good at sport. Really good Behind the Bastards episodes that touch on this actually.

Behind the Bastards - Part One: How Avery Brundage Gave Hitler an Olympics

Behind the Bastards - Part Two: How Avery Brundage Gave Hitler an Olympics

Hell yeah, another BTB listener? There's dozens of us, dozens!

Another 19th century thing that was exclusionary at its beginning.

Do you know why? Because rich people didn't want to compete against the poor. If you couldn't afford to compete, you didn't. The rich can't didn't fancy meeting Gary the local bouncer in a boxing match.

History of Olympics is fucked up.

History of everything is fucked up.

Power, money, and violence are usually how things go, the bubble of "freedom" that has existed for a few hundred years maybe be yielding.

There are still a few amateurs left: L. James, S. Curry, RayGunn

Don't worry, Coca-Cola and the like will continue making buckets of cash from the Olympics.....

Wait non companies need money too?

Maybe the athletes can sell shares of themselves, provide dividends and engage in stock buy-back. /s

Should pay them with the advertising revenue they make possible.

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.

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.

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

Edit: always as in the past ~50 years.

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?

I edited the comment prior to your reply specifying the last 50 years.

and thats spose to make it ok?

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.

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

If that’s what you wanted, you should have been more specific instead of assuming a jab would have been the proper way to have a polite conversation. I’m glad to know you can get satisfaction out of playing with yourself online. ✌️

I have bad news for you: Nobody is here to fulfill your expectations.

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

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.

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.

A lot of people I know are watching, and more than just the memes.

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.

If you can imagine the ancient Olympics with all those naked male athletes running and flexing, the sex trade would have been happening back then too.

Lots of consensual sex happens in modern Olympic villages today, because just healthy young people getting together.

I thought the point being made here is that they should be making enough money to not have to resort to Only fans.

What does whether they're getting it on in camp or not have to do with this article?

I think people are forgetting something, which is that younger people like clout. OnlyFans isn't really that taboo for a lot of younger people. It's associated with being hot and making money. A lot of Olympians probably WANTED their OnlyFans to pop off because they thought it was cool. And they don't have to show full nudes or sex, many just post in swimsuits, softcore porn, or tasteful covered nudes. Being "forced" to do OnlyFans is a bit of a stretch for some athletes, but I agree that the games in general are exploiting the athletes. I think the games themselves could be considered a type of sex work, though.

While some athletes say they don’t see what they’re doing as sex work, German diver Bartel put it frankly: “In sport, you wear nothing but a Speedo, so you’re close to being naked.”

“The entire funding model for Olympic sport is broken. The IOC generates now over US$1.7 billion per year and they refuse to pay athletes who attend the Olympics,” said Rob Koehler, Global Athlete’s director general.

He criticized the IOC for forcing athletes to sign away their image rights.

“The majority of athletes can barely pay their rent, yet the IOC, national Olympic committees and national federations that oversee the sport have employees making over six figures. They all are making money off the backs of athletes. In a way, it is akin to modern-day slavery,” Koehler said.

It is amazing how sex work specifically makes people hate capitalism. People don't mind a capitalist, but as soon as that capitalist is a pimp or madame, then they can see the immorality

younger people like clout.

How to make a self in a broad cultural landscape of confomity?

It is amazing how sex work specifically makes people hate capitalism. People don't mind a capitalist, but as soon as that capitalist is a pimp or madame, then they can see the immorality

Cause sex work allows social mobility. The feudalistic lords also hated merchants cause they threatened the social hierarchy.

100%! Sex work is inherently empowering and destroys typical power dynamics in cishet monogamous relationships.

You are aggressively missing the point. Don't you think "the youths" would prefer being able to pay rent over clout? Onlyfans isn't the problem here, the point is it should be something they have the option to do rather than the only way to afford to compete.

Problem is that people in the Olympics aren’t supposed to be professional athletes. IOW they can’t make any money off their skills. I think the Olympic rules have sought to reinforce that not because they really don’t want paid athletes, just that they want everyone surrounding the Olympic entertainment industry to get paid instead. Networks, venues, vendors, etc.

The IOC hasn't required amateur status since 1988. Some sports still do, as the IOC mostly relies on the governing bodies for each sport to set the rules, but for the Olympics as a whole, that's a relic of the past.

You’re right. I knew the stance had changed over time thanks to things like the US wanting to beat the USSR. I didn’t realize it had changed so much. Nonetheless, unless the participant is a big star, they may not get paid much at all, or only if they medal.

Yes, but the point is that you don't make money from participating in the Olympics. You might get some sponsorships or advertising deals, things like that. But you can't build a monetary career on being an athlete at the Olympics.

Therefore you will only see those pro sports people there who are really ambitious about wanting to get a medal. A successful sports person who isn't interested in that will most likely not participate at all.

I just watched LeBron James play in the Olympic basketball gold medal game earlier this afternoon so this most definitely is not the case anymore

We saw professional players enter the Olympics in the ‘70s and of course the biggest surge was in the ‘80s. Why? The US wanted to dominate the Olympics against the USSR. You mention basketball, they don’t get paid by the NBA or anyone else. US stars will get bonuses for participating from their major sponsors like Nike, and of course if they do well, Gerri g their name associated with a big Olympic win is great for branding contracts. Other stars may get paid per-medal won.

So no, they don’t get paid like a professional player does, but they do make money. I’ll also offer that the big name stars are going to be making the real contract money. That’s rare for the rest of the competitors. Famously, medals have ended up on eBay because the winners needed cash.

I think I misunderstood your initial statement as well, to be fair. I took that to mean "people who play professionally and make money from it aren't allowed" and not what I now believe you meant which is "people who play in the Olympics are not paid to do so".

Which makes sense, it seems strange to bar a professional basketball player from the Olympics simply because that's how they make their paycheck. I misunderstood the initial statement and didn't think about it long enough to notice before making my reply.

Isn’t it up to the athletes then to not participate and boycott the olympics until they treat their talent better?

I reckon that it is to fund their own training when their government is too corrupt and uncaring to support them. Us in the West take for granted that the government provide support to train prospective athletes; but it's not so much in developing countries. The Philippines' first ever Olympic gold medallist- Hydeline Diaz- won two years ago in Tokyo. But prior to that, she begged and implored to both the public and the government to provide financial support her aspirations to compete in the Olympics but she was shunned. It was only after she won gold, unexpectedly, that everyone tried to rub their shoulders with her to play as sycophants. This year, Filipino politicians and business elites have also been brown nosing themselves to Carlos Yulo after winning two gold medals.

The athlete mentioned here is a British diver.

England is a Wester country, I presume, so I guess your assumption is at least partially wrong: even in the west some athletes might not be making ends meet.

I don't think it should be for the government to fund you. There are other much better ways of spending public money. If you participate I a sport that no one watches (and thus you can't get a sponsor), why should we fund that?

Maybe the wealthy countries should fund grants to athletes whose countries won't support them, whether due to poverty or corruption.

Maybe for developing countries, it's better to fund 1000 teachers instead of 1000 Olympic hopefuls

*extremely healthy in peak physical condition riding high on adrenaline.

A lot of people seem to be missing the point.

There is nothing wrong with sex work or having an OnlyFans. There is absolutely a lot wrong with the fact that the top athletes of our world who perform on the top athletic stage of the world are destitute to the point of having to fund themselves this way. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe anyone should have to use this as a last resort either but it's very telling of society as it currently is when these people are having to do so.

To be clear, it has not been established that this is the last resort, but rather that it's better than the alternatives. Which is to say, if you've gotten famous but the organization that made you famous isn't paying you well, you might look for other ways to monetize the attention. Being at the top of international sports is such a fleeting thing, so if some of these athletes want to capitalize on the moment, they better not wait until next year because who the hell knows when their career will rapidly change.

1 more...

Is this different from having to shill your non-nude body on Instagram?

No, but prudes will prude once nudity is involved for cash lol.

They will probably earn more selling nudes than they would as fitness instructors and coaches when they're past competing age too.

It's not even necessarily nudity in every of these cases. Could be just quite revealing pictures

It's not a 'broken' system - it's a broken system. You don't need the quotes when it's factual.

It's ok to use quotes when quoting someone.

As per many style guides, the quotes in classic news-media are used to indicate they're quoting someone and it's not the copy-writer's opinion.

Aaaaand we've reached yet another low. I dunno, but this really is a punch in the gut for me.

Countries and cities spend BILLIONS on the stuoid olympics (or footbal world cups), building stadiums that will be abandoned right after the event is over, we ignore slavery and corruption (hello quatar, hello fifa!) and abuses, and the athletes themselves? Nobody gives a shit, go prostitute yourself!

But the Olympics and the world cup are awesome!! /s

And just to clarify: all respect to the athletes, they are awesome but they are participating in abusive events, unfortunately.

Most of the sports in the Olympics aren't really money makers. That's more or less always been the case. Many athletes train while working fulltime. Maybe it's good OF and things like it provide another outlet. Some countries fund their athletes, and others don't. If anyone is upset about people making a fortune off of it, you can always stop supporting it.

People are upset that professional athletes at the world stage, the best of the best, that bring glory and medals to their countries are left to fend for themselves between events.

I'm even more upset that the best teacher or the best social worker doesn't get any recognition at all.

A dude/dudette skateboarding, jumping or shooting with a bow doesn't bring me any value, entertainment or otherwise. If they can't find a sponsor, tough luck.

1 more...
1 more...

Arent the olympians supposed to be “non professional”? Or maybe it used to be

Hasn’t been that way for 30 odd years. Think of Jordan’s dream team

I think this needs a bit more context. Before "the dream team" the US only sent NCAA basketball players. The same goes with all sports, including hockey. The US's complaint was that other countries were sending their professional players. Cuba's baseball team, the USSR's hockey team, etc. were solely comprised of essentially professional players that did they sport for a living. It was successfully argued that this was an unfair advantage for countries with programs like this.

PS: This is why "The Miracle on Ice", when the US beat the USSR in hockey was such a big deal. The US team was essentially a bunch college kids while the USSR was playing with arguably the best hockey players in the world at the time. It was the equivalent to Puerto Rico beating the original Dream Team in basketball.

Honestly, it's had pros for even longer. The USSR "amateurs" were members of the Red Army whose entire job was their sport.

Are you saying they should be jobless hobos?

They should be funded by the IOC. Right now, they're being paid by their country (if they want to have a chance of medaling).

They also rarely train inside that country or with a trainer from that country. Many of them go to the U.S. for training and stay there for years.

And how do you suggest the IOC should get the money to pay for all those 'employees' ?

From the article:

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.

Ok, so the IOC should be taking that revenue away from the host country and expect them to pay for the infrastructure and staff at an even bigger loss?

Which country or city would want to do that?

It doesn't say the host country is the one that makes the money. And I'm sure they can spare a billion or two for the athletes.

What doesn't say the host country is the one that makes the money?

The Olympics is already operating at a net loss, with the host city/country basically footing the bill in exchange for publicity.

Do you think these cities would be happy to pay for 20.000 extra 'employees' for four years?

2 more...
2 more...
2 more...
2 more...
2 more...
2 more...
2 more...
2 more...

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.”

Fark you. (Channeling Joe Pesci): "You only HAVE those billions in ticket sales, sponsorships and TV rights because the athletes make that possible!"

I think you're misrepresenting the overtone. Surely the question came across as one of, doesn't IOC think this action is inappropriate? Aren't you going to stop them? And he's saying no.

I mean at the end of the day athletes are entertainers. And just like actors or singers, it doesn't matter if you're very good at what you do if you can't land the paid gigs or sell yourself in some way. And the people making the big money are going to be a small few at the very top.

This is the exact same thing as Superbowl cheerleaders being "paid" with "exposure." What gig can they land that is bigger than The Superbowl? What gig can the literal best athletes in the world land that is bigger than The Olympics? There isn't one. The people running both of those events are stuffing their own pockets and treating the people who do the actual work as slaves.

Do super bowl cheerleaders not get paid?

They get a pittance. I had forgotten that they get $100-150 per game.

https://www.fastcompany.com/40524880/nfl-cheerleader-pay-this-super-bowl-lets-remember-the-ultimate-wage-gap

No hourly, no salary. They are literal gig workers, most of whom make $22,000-$25,000 per year. The ones at The Superbowl, aka the absolute top tier cheerleaders, might make a whole $70,000 a year. They may as well not be getting paid for how little they make compared to everyone else in the industry.

It's less than the players and coches for sure, but even the best janitor in the world doesn't get paid 70k. It's not a bad income...

Added emphasis. They aren't guaranteed to make that much, and the places that they have to live to be able to make that much, a janitor better be making more than 70k. That isn't a liveable wage on the west coast, which is where you have to be to make that much.

I have no idea where you live but I am guessing you have a decent income. It is coming off a bit “how much could one banana cost”.

Janitors in Los Angeles apparently make around $50,000. Minimum wage is of course quite a bit less than that. I am sure there are a lot of people on “the west coast” that would like to make a “living wage”.

https://www.indeed.com/career/janitor/salaries/Los-Angeles--CA

I live in San Diego. I do make a lot, but with rents the way they are around here, not to mention gas prices, I've no idea how anyone is doing anything but barely surviving on 50k a year out here.

I know people don't get paid that much, but I don't know how they do it, and I refuse to pay employees that poorly.

These are the literal best in the world. They are the top

I don't think it's right, but:

The top of entertainment. Vast majority compete in sports with little-to-no money in them. Being only a small part of a two-week competition every four years.

Now, personally, I think competing on the Olympics should come with an automatic $50k bonus, but I don't have control over that.

Its really unfortunate that their careers can't be self sustaining and they have to resort to two jobs, but on the other hand I couldn't be happier about their secondary career choice so

Um, my country doesn't fund its athletes' travel and entry to the games; and training is a sponsorship deal already. It's a hidden hustle to get to compete, and it's not talked about but it's definitely part of every athlete's job at this point.

We talk about funding our hopefuls, out of some federal sports fund-bucket, but the conservatives argue that's a waste of money when they already don't want to fund schools or healthcare.

Make the “permanent” seats on the UN Security Council conditional on being in the top five Olympic gold medal rankings and all of a sudden we’ll see endless streams of government funding for athletes.