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.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    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.

    • nonailsleft@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      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?