Good read: The high price of raising an Olympian
Taking another look at children and the Olympics, MSNBC has an interesting article entitled The high price of raising an Olympian. The article discusses the financial commitment involved with raising an Olympic athlete.
Training costs are pricey alone but when you factor in the rest of the expenses, it can be staggering.
"We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Heather," Jan Peck [mother of soccer player heather mitts] recalls. "Tournaments, hotel accommodations, private lessons, food, travel, sitters for siblings or pets – all those things cost money."
And what if you don't have all of that cash on hand?
Gymnast Shawn Johnson's parents, for example, took out a line of credit on their home and have used that money over the years to cover travel expenses. The debt has made a dent in the family finances, but that's a price parents seem willing to pay.
I don't even want to think about the families with more than one child competing at that level.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I suppose it can be viewed as any business venture. Certainly here in Japan, any one that wins a medal can look forward to a lump of cash and a lifetime of opportunities advertising whatever.