The Olympics: An Age Old Problem

The Olympic Games are generally governed by the International Olympic Committee. From time to time, various questions arise that are resolved by the IOC rules. During the current games, there was a question as to whether Iraqi athletes would be able to compete because the al-Maliki Government disbanded the Iraqi Olympic Committee in May after it accused its members of corruption and rigged elections. Although an interim committee was appointed, the IOC refused to recognize it citing Olympic Charter Rules that bar government interference in National Olympic Committee activities. There was also an allegation that the gold medals made in China were instead composed of 99% lead alloy and coated with a gold-colored lead-based paint rather than 100% gold as required.

The newest controversy relates to the age of three competing Chinese gymnasts in the Beijing Olympics. In 1996, the Olympic Committee created a 16 year old age minimum for women’s gymnastics. As per the 1997 regulation, gymnasts must be at least 16 years of age, or turning 16 within the calendar year, to compete in senior-level events. In order to compete in the 2008 Olympics, a gymnast must have a birth date before January 1, 1993.This has created quite a stir in that the three Chinese gymnasts who are competing in the Olympics appear to be younger than 16, despite submission of passport documentation by the Chinese authorities to the contrary. As their ages cannot be easily verified through document authentication, the IOC has relied upon the passports, which can certainly be easily altered.  There are several documented cases of age falsification in World Championship competitions.

It is alleged that Chinese gymnast He Kexin was born on 1/1/94, which would make her 14 when the games began and ineligible to compete. Obviously, He is a phenomenal gymnast; otherwise, there would not even be a concern. Gymnastics coach, Bela Karolyi, however, has made a big deal about what he believes to be falsification of documents by the Chinese. Despite his opposition to the rule, he readily expresses his belief that the Chinese have not played by the rules. The Chinese Olympic officials have, however, defended He's eligibility, maintaining that they have submitted proper passport documentation to the IOC with He's date of birth as 1/1/92. What makes He Kexin’s passport suspect is that it was issued only six months before the Olympics while other records that were already in existence prior to the Olympics show He as a 14 year old. Any documentation can be falsified and without a great body of knowledge of how other countries authenticate their documentation, we are hard pressed to show that He’s passport is a fake.

All of this is irrelevant, however, as the IOC apparently does nothing in the way of enforcement. Chinese gymnast and bronze medalist Yang Yun competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and won a bronze medal on the uneven bars. Although her passport said she was born on 12/24/84 (turning 16 the year of the Games) Ms. Yun later confessed during a television interview that she was 14 when she competed and she and her coaches lied about her age.

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