NCAA Allowing More Benefits To Olympic Hopefuls

The NCAA will now "permit athletes to be paid for training expenses" by the USOC and other NGBs in a move that is "effective immediately." Previously, college athletes "could compromise their eligibility" by accepting "some benefits that are provided to potential Olympians." Now, athletes "designated elite" by the USOC or NGBs can have "travel expenses paid for parents, coaches or trainers." New rules also will "allow potential Olympians to spend more time working with their college coaches without breaking NCAA rules regarding practice limits" (AP, 1/22).

Meanwhile, NCAA President Mark Emmert today is scheduled to give his annual state of the NCAA address at the organization's convention in Anaheim, where he is "expected to address the NCAA's push to modernize its rulebook to allow college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness" (USA TODAY, 1/23).