[Aramiss18]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...2/15835038.stm

"World 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene tells BBC Wales Sport reporter Simon Davies why he thinks football has "no place" at the Olympic Games."

Genuine gripe or a person scared that he won't get his name in the papers? If it's all about the medal and not the fame surely football being in the olympics isn't an issue.

Discuss.

[mikeyd85]

Agreed.

When the Olympic event < Any other event of any sport, it shouldn't be in the Olympics.

[A for Andromeda]

Professional footballers have no place in the olympics.

[JBullyWBA]

I disagree. The Olympics is the perfect place for young players who aren't picked for World Cups or Euros/Copa America. It gives them a chance to prove themselves at international level on a big stage.

[elitepower]

I agree with him. We hardly see any of the Olympic events during the four years between except a certain few so I could see his point. Most olympic athletes are hardly A-list celebraties with dozens of magizine deals whilst footballers are generally more famous and the media would likely follow their anthics.

Also the Olympics doesn't have Tennis or Golf so why should it have football? Anyway I think the Olympics is fine without football

[ollie82]

Yeah I agree football shouldn't be in the Olympics.

[Aramiss18]

(Original post by elitepower)
I agree with him. We hardly see any of the Olympic events during the four years between except a certain few so I could see his point. Most olympic athletes are hardly A-list celebraties with dozens of magizine deals whilst footballers are generally more famous and the media would likely follow their anthics.

Also the Olympics doesn't have Tennis or Golf so why should it have football? Anyway I think the Olympics is fine without football

Tennis is in the olympics, and I believe basketball is too.

[elitepower]

(Original post by Aramiss18)
Tennis is in the olympics, and I believe basketball is too.

Is it? I've never seen them. Although this is a good link to the main topic. Do major tennis players like Nadal or Murray play at the Olympics? Or are lesser known players representing their countries?

[Zerforax]

(Original post by elitepower)
Is it? I've never seen them. Although this is a good link to the main topic. Do major tennis players like Nadal or Murray play at the Olympics? Or are lesser known players representing their countries?

The top players compete. Nadal won the gold medal in 2008.

[Hopple]

I think him saying that footballers "Have 4 or 5 weeks off and suddenly become an Olympian" is completely out of order, and his comments about Beckham's breakfast at the end show his true colours - green, green and more green of envy. I agree that the Olympics isn't the biggest priority to footballers, but that's why there's the age restriction on it - so that it probably will be the biggest thing the players have had a proper hand (or foot) in their lives so far.

(Original post by elitepower)
Also the Olympics doesn't have Tennis or Golf so why should it have football? Anyway I think the Olympics is fine without football

Tennis is, I think Nadal won in the end.

[ccfcadam36]

the olympic football competition is coming to coventry this summer. my home. it does belong in the olympics as it gives the opportunity to other cities to experience the olympic games rather than just london

[chickenonsteroids]

I never really pay attention to it anyway.

I do not think popular professionals should be part of it however, i'm not sure whether there is a cap on professional players like there is in basketball

[Pride]

I can't make my mind up with this one, I keep changing my mind. I'm gonna sit on the fence. Fair points both sides though

[Guru Jason]

(Original post by chickenonsteroids)
I never really pay attention to it anyway.

I do not think popular professionals should be part of it however, i'm not sure whether there is a cap on professional players like there is in basketball

There is an age cap of only allowing only 3 players over the age of 23

[J@tko]

TBH all that's ever on TV during the Olympics is the Athletics. I remember one person from the BBC (can't remember who it was) got rapped for saying "The Olympics proper start now" on the first day of the athletics. Why would I want to watch the marathon when I can watch, I dunno, Beach Volleyball?

[elitepower]

Well you learn something every day, I will look out for those this year. My point was that as all the traditional sports like baseball and tennis wern't in then football shouldn't be but since they are that defeats that point.

I still don't think football at the olympics is a good idea though. First I'm british and as it is highly unlikely we would get a medal in it, keep it away (still angry russia snuck up into 3rd at the end of 2008). Also most of the competitors spend all the four years (or longer in most cases) working hard to achieve their medal whilst a football team that probaly has incredibly famous players with high salaries and internation regonition achieve the same award. I know footballers work hard but the other competitors only dream for this medal and the footballers would not have their life dream as getting a gold medal.

Plus I'm sure the press would put more pressure on the footballers which would overshadow the events which do not get enough attention as it is.

[Mike93L]

Olympic football is U23s (plus 3 23+) anyway so it's great chance for young players to represent their country. Also, other popular sports are in the Olympics as well such as tennis and basketball which the likes of Federer, Nadal, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant all participate. It's a good thing really, the Beijing Basketball final which I was lucky enough to watch was probably the best sporting event I've seen and I don't even follow basketball. If you start barring professionals then you might as well not have the event which would be a shame since many other countries without star players participate as well.

[elitepower]

Keep forgetting - a great oppertunity to use this

[kopite493]

lets face it if the olympic events weren't so boring this would not be a problem

but as they are we need some excitement

[Nigel9]

It has also been suggested that poker should be an Olympic sport.