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Document Type
Article
Description
In the late 1800s, professional sports attracted high-stakes gambling. The potential for bribery and extortion led to a general sense that paid athletes were corruptible and competitions untrustworthy. While betting on amateur events was common, a deep divide emerged between "pure" amateurs, who were said to compete for the love of the sport, and professionals, who competed for money in the form of cash prizes or other remuneration. This prejudice even extended to coaches who had been professionals, who were believed to be too tainted to coach amateurs. The distinction often boiled down to so-called gentleman-athletes, who had private fortunes, versus working-class athletes, who had to earn money to live and train. Sport governing bodies consisted almost exclusively of gentlemen, who often preferred not to compete with working people. Sports associations in sports such as rowing, skiing and the Olympic Games were quick to outlaw those perceived as “professionals” to keep competition limited to true amateurs. This resulted in much hypocrisy and discrimination over the years.
Publication Date
12-5-2023
Publisher
John W. Lundin
City
Ellensburg
Disciplines
United States History
Recommended Citation
Lundin, John W., "AMATEUR STATUS WAS A DOMINANT ISSUE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF SPO" (2023). Works by Local Authors. 44.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/local_authors/44