In a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the acclaimed podcaster has taken aim at the Olympic Games, dubbing it a “giant scam.” Rogan’s criticism of the Olympics centers around two key issues: the meager compensation for athletes and the controversial nature of the opening ceremony.
According to Rogan, despite the fact that the Olympics showcase the world’s best athletes, they are not adequately compensated for their efforts. “The Olympics is a giant scam,” Rogan said. “There’s two things going on simultaneously, ok, you have the best athletes in the world participating in their disciplines. That’s happening and then on top of that, you have enormous amounts of money being made and none of it is going to the athletes. It is a giant scam.”
To put this into perspective, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s “Project Gold” program awards $37,500 for gold medals, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze. Meanwhile, in France, the host country of the 2024 Summer Games, gold medalists will receive approximately $85,000, silver medalists $43,000, and bronze medalists $22,000. Rogan argues that these payouts are not commensurate with the level of talent and dedication displayed by the athletes.
Rogan’s criticism also extends to the opening ceremony, which he has described as “weird” and pushing a “crazy agenda.” He specifically called out the inclusion of “drag queens doing the last supper and all that s*it” in the segment, stating that it is not the appropriate place for such performances. “Nobody understands it because it’s not made by athletes. These are the crazy people who are putting on the Last Supper with transexuals. That’s what they’re doing. It’s not the place for it. They’re pushing this weird agenda in this place where people are already getting fucking over.”
The Olympics have also faced controversy over the inclusion of transgender athletes, with the International Olympic Committee clearing two trans athletes, Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan, to compete despite previous disqualifications.
Rogan’s scathing assessment of the Olympics highlights the growing concerns surrounding the event’s practices and the perceived disconnect between the grandeur of the games and the treatment of the athletes who make them possible.
