The Olympics are more than fun and games. They’re a billion-dollar business with political overtones

By STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer

The Paris Olympics involve about 10,500 athletes representing about 200 countries or regions. But the Olympics are more than just fun and games. They are a giant business that generated $7.6 billion in income for the International Olympic Committee over the latest four-year cycle. They’re also a proxy for geopolitical influence seen through the standings in the medal tables, the presence of world leaders at the opening ceremony and the national anthems serenading gold-medal winners.