The sports industry’s integrity has often and largely been questioned by one practice; doping. World Anti-Doping Agency alongside Olympic Games and numerous circuits have worked to ensure a field free of one to emphasize fair competition. However, in an unusual turn of events, a group of venture capitalists alongside Peter Thiel have flocked to fund an alternate universe, quite the opposite.

Recently, the term ‘Enhanced Games’ made waves on the internet for the regulations it carried. According to reports, these Olympic-style competitions will allow performance-enhancing drugs and are in preparation for making an appearance. However, who is Peter Thiel? The man backing the games.

Peter Thiel and the Olympic games alternative

Peter Thiel is a German-American venture capitalist popularly known for being the former CEO and co-founder of PayPal. On his path to growth today, Thiel attended Stanford, introduced the college newspaper critical of political correctness, and The Diversity of Myth, 3 years after graduation. Awareness and a curious mind have then led the billionaire to invest in Facebook, Airbnb, SpaceX, and more. Today, following his numerous ventures rather successful, Tiel has joined Balaji Srinivasan and Christian Angermayer among others to fund Enhanced Games. 

The interest in the venture stems from the idea that the games “embrace[s] the inclusion of science in sports.” ‘Olympics of the future,’ is what they describe it as, stating it doesn’t stigmatize enhanced athletes. However, that is just a small part of a larger idea that aims to revolutionize sports participation and the perception of limits.

Reinventing sports

The primary idea of the Enhanced Games is centralized around science. “There is no better forum for highlighting the centrality of science in our modern world than elite sports,” Dr Aron Ping D’Souza President of the Enhanced Games states. The concept will aim to be ‘the safest international sporting event in history’ as they embrace medical screening protocols. However, while the usage of drugs is what sets the games apart it is categorized as a personal choice. Nonetheless, Enhanced games will provide a platform to push the “perceived limit” of what is possible, with the ultimate goal of setting new world records.

Also Read: “Have Taken Medicine for It”: Accused of Doping, Simone Biles Had to Justify Her Methylphenidate Consumption in 2016

Adding that the games aim to highlight the wastefulness of the Olympic movement, the team addresses the vision of “protecting athletes’ rights to bodily autonomy.” Backed by the biggest of names, the games will host advancements of the 21st century and will unveil the compensation structure in mid-2024. As of now, the events include Track and field, Swimming, Gymnastics, Weight lifting, and Combat Sports. “It’s time to make sports better,” is the team’s conclusion note.

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