US hockey and basketball players are not paid to play in the Olympics.

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>Nick;
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>The “New Olympics” begun in the 1890’s were meant to be for athletes and quickly became about Nations competing with each other. When there was a U.S.S.R., Soviet athletes were paid by their government to train and compete. Professional athletes were used on many occasions. If an American athlete accepted money from anyone to train or compete they were disqualified. The story of Jim Thorpe comes to mind – as he won gold but it was taken from him as he had played in a unrelated sport field as a “semi pro” and was paid a few dollars for his effort. His medal was given back recently – many years after he died.
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>Today things have changed – just look at basketball and hockey. Enough – I am getting ill! :)
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>Tom