We are about a month away from the Rio Olympics and I’m starting to see why so many of our top athletes are not heading to Brazil. It’s just not worth it.
Forget the fact that the two best stars in basketball are sitting out due to injury and overall fatigue. That’s something that has happened since they started to allow professionals in the Olympics. You have a contract with an employer that pays you handsomely and that supersedes any other commitment. But the increasing number of threats, both home and abroad — coupled with dangers from the Zika virus — you could just not get me and my family on a plane right now. Traveling abroad right now is a red flag for me. We don’t feel the same about traveling outside of the United States as we once did.
The recent terror attacks in Turkey should make anybody think twice about flying somewhere, much less heading to Rio. I understand that everybody is different so people will weigh their decisions accordingly. It’s all context. If I was an Olympic swimmer, a single man or woman, that wasn’t responsible for somebody else, then maybe I think about going. When you add your wife and kids into the mix, then you are left with a choice like the number one golfer in the world, Jason Day, was faced with. He decided that it was not with the risk. Some people have to go no matter what. If you based your entire career on being at this specific event, every four years, then you have no other options. Your entire sponsorship and endorsement deals depend solely on you competing and attending. Their choice was made for them. More power to the professional athletes that are attending and really have nothing to gain, especially those that already have done their civic duty.
The mystique of the Olympics has worn off a since the 1970s. That was back when you had four channels and that was something that you would watch with your families. Now, people have the ability to watch things at their convenience and add the fact that you more often than not know the results before NBC even airs the event. It’s no coincidence in seeing why the US interest was waned a bit.
It’s just a shame the 31st Summer Olympiad will have people competing under this type of cloud.
 |
Gary Radnich’s blog is brought to you in partnership with Mason McDuffie Mortgage, the mortgage company you trust, combined with today’s best technologies. Find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and at MasonandGary.com. |