Olympic Movement Getting Closer to Age Limits

PHOENIX, Arizona, December 4. EARLIER this year, Australian legend Shane Gould felt some heat when she commented that athletes under 18 should not compete at the Olympic Games.

"Anyone under 18 I don't think should be allowed to go to the Olympics," Gould told The Daily Telegraph. "They can be used. Sport to me I think has gone in an unhealthy direction and I think it has to be constantly reviewed. Sport is now commerce. I think junior sport is over-organized and they're (children) not being able to play and explore. Let kids be kids."

Gould's background helps explain her stance as she retired from swimming a year after competing in the 1972 Olympic Games at the tender age of 15.

While initial talk of an age limit at the Games might have been conjecture, news is now coming out from the Xinhua news agency that FIG, the international federation for gymnastics that is similar to FINA in swimming, is considering an age limit of 16 for gymnasts competing internationally after the 2008 Beijing Games.

"Sports like gymnastics should not be there for kids," FIG president Bruno Grandi told Xinhua. "Gymnasts should only be allowed to compete in international stage when they are mature physically and mentally."

With such a large Olympic organization moving to an age limit, there could be concern that FINA will adopt the same stance.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee continues to push its Youth Olympic Games. Could it be only a matter of time before there becomes a secondary Youth Olympics, which could become just as commercialized as the grand event?

Full text of Shane Gould's comments.

Full text of Xinhua report on gymnastics.

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