Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, was opposed to winter games because winter sports were the exclusive purview of the wealthy and privileged. And, while it may be ironic or even hypocritical for someone with a title to say such a thing, I agree with him.
Interesting story. I’m not sure I understand what that guy’s point was. “Amateur athletics” in general is pretty much the exclusive purview of the wealthy and privileged — and has been since the modern Olympics were established.