While watching the Opening Ceremonies of the 21st Olympic Games on Friday, it occurred to me that Olympic athletes are entrepreneurs:

Like entrepreneurs they make a huge investment. As young atheletes in training their families spend lots of money on training sessions, time at facilities, salaries for coaches. Their friends make investments in their progress and allow them time to train. The athletes themselves make the ultimate investment that any of us have - time, money, labor.

Like entrepreneurs Olympic athletes take big risks. They often surrender their childhood and/or adolescent years giving up time at the cinema, walking or biking around town, playing raquetball or tennis with friends. They donate their time that others often spend in pursuit, or consideration at least of a career outside of athletic competition like accounting, law or medicine.

Like entrepreneurs they have many opportunities to learn. Training and competitive athletes make mistakes, take losses and learn from these experiences. Competitive athletes also learn from the mistakes and failures of their community, friends and competitors. As in business, Olympic athletes know everyone in their industry so "competitiors" is just another way to state "friends."

Like entrepreneurs Olympic athletes celebrate their victories in meets and competitions and often receive global recognition.

Lastly they depend on relationships, community and networks for their viability. No athlete or businessperson exists as an island. In fact, success depends upon having others with whom to compete.