“Bollocks,” says World Athletics president Sebastian Coe as he slams Enhanced Games and its “moronic” competitors; threatens bans

© Copyright – 2024 – Athletics Illustrated

Speaking in Glasgow at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, president Sebastian Coe slammed the Enhanced Games calling it bollocks.

“It’s bollocks, isn’t it? I can’t really get excited about it. There’s only one message, and that is if anybody is moronic enough to officially take part in it, and they are in the traditional part of our sport, they’ll get banned for a long time. But I really don’t get sleepless nights about it,” said Coe.

The Enhanced Games is backed by venture capitalists including the billionaire Peter Thiel.

Recently, retired swimmer, James Magnussen, agreed to come out of retirement to compete in the Enhanced Games and attempt to swim faster than the 50m freestyle world record for a prize of USD 1,000,000 (£790,000).

Aron D’Souza an Australian businessman, who currently lives in London, UK has proposed the Enhanced Games. While surely a viable alternative to the Olympic Games has merit, not this kind.

D’Souza claims, and rightfully so, that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is a one-party system. And has said, “Now the opposition party is here.”

Intriguing, but the Enhanced Games may turn out to be the Jerry Springer Show of sporting events; trash.

Enhanced Games news release

The Enhanced Games, the modern reinvention of the Olympic Games that does not have drug testing, is pleased to announce the closing of its Series Seed funding round with the participation of leading venture capitalists including Christian Angermayer’s Apeiron Investment Group, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, and former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan. 

The multi-million dollar round gives Enhanced the financial foundations to deliver a world-class sporting event. “The Enhanced Games is pleased to have the support of Christian, Peter, Balaji and all our other investors. They see the vision of a new model of sports, that openly celebrates scientific innovation and honestly represents the use of performance enhancements in sports today”, said Aron D’Souza, President of the Enhanced Games. “Unlike the Olympic Games, Enhanced believes that excellence deserves to be rewarded. Support from the world’s leading venture capitalists enables us to create the structures that pay athletes fairly.”