Olympics

Indicators of the Week is BACK, and this time, we're going for the gold! (...In educating our listeners on the economics and business stories behind the Olympics.)

In this Olympics-themed episode, we'll learn what economic factors help countries win more medals, how NBCUniversal is betting on these games to support its streaming service, and what it takes to feed 15,000 hungry athletes. (Hint: A LOT of potassium. And pain au chocolat. And baguettes.)

Related Episode:
Why Host The Olympics?

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In 2017, the Larry Nassar scandal rocked the Olympic community.

Hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse against the former USA Gymnastics doctor underscored how vulnerable athletes are — particularly when they're minors.

That year, Congress and the U.S. Olympic Committee had a solution.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport was founded to investigate and respond to allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct. The goal was for predators like Larry Nassar to never harm young athletes again.

Now, seven years later, SafeSport is facing scrutiny of its own — over whether it's made good on that promise.

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One focus of the probe appears to be on the World Anti-Doping Agency, which reviewed repeated positive drug tests by elite Chinese swimmers.

Russia has been sanctioned by the IOC for actions taken as part of the invasion of Ukraine. Officials in Moscow say Israel is being treated differently by the IOC as fighting continues in Gaza.