Introduction to the Expanded Games
The organizers of the expanded games know how to attract attention, starting with a brilliant one-hour film and a sales platform for prescription amplifiers. They also claimed a new 50-meter freestyle world record by the Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomev. According to Aron d’Souza, "He should be in retirement, but in fact he swims faster than any other being. Why? Because he used technology and science to improve his performance."
The Goal of the Expanded Games
The goal is to make the games appealing to a wide audience, especially middle-aged men who once played competitive sports and now suffer from back pain. As d’Souza boasted, "As soon as the world realizes that everyone will want it. Every middle-aged man who once played a competitive sport and now suffered from back pain will say: ‘What is he there and how do I get it?’"
Was a World Record Really Broken?
Not in a meaningful sense, as the World Aquatics organization does not recognize the record. The reasons for this include the lack of independent decision, the use of an inline-guest body-open water suit that falls outside World Aquatic standards, and the absence of doping control. The organizers claim that Gkolomev also demands another world record for Jammer, shorts that are approved at the Olympic Games.
The Meaning of the Expanded Games
A significant part of the transport was about two things – money and drugs. Each event winner will receive $500,000, with a bonus of $1 million for world records in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter sprint, and $250,000 for other world records. Investors such as Donald Trump Jr. and Peter Thiel hope to benefit from the "Telemedicine platform" of the organization, which will start in a number of US states in August.
When Do the Expanded Games Take Place?
The actual event will take place on May 21 to 24 in Las Vegas, less than a month before the United States organizes the World Cup and two years before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Only four athletes, all swimmers, have so far confirmed their participation.
Criticisms of the Expanded Games
The worlds of sport and medicine were almost universal in their condemnation of the concept. According to Olivier Rabin, director of the World Anti-Doping Agency, "If you think you will give you a good idea of the health risks of abuse of doping substances because you carry out medical checks on site, it is a medical and scientific nonsense." Chris Raynor, a doctor for sports medicine, said that the dangers were dramatic, including cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack, and sudden heart death.
Response from the Organizers
D’Souza argues that doping is inherent in professional and amateur sport, and his proposal is a safer method that "makes sport a fair, level, transparent area, so that innovations can be illustrated in a very public way in order to support technological progress." The athletes participating in the expanded games, such as James Magnussen, claim that it has revived their passion for sport, but consider it separate from clean competition. Magnussen said, "I woke up with enthusiasm every day to train, compete. I felt so healthy and motivated. To be honest, it is the happiest thing I’ve been for seven years."
