and adopted in 1998. It is a revision of the previous Amateur Sports Act of 1978 that reflects changes such as the fact that amateurism is no longer a requirement for competing in most international sports (the admission of professionals was caused by the extensive cheating of the Soviet Union that listed its best pros as soldiers and broke the Olympic rules), expansion of the USOC's role to include the Paralympic Games, increased athlete representation, and protection of the USOC against lawsuits involving athletes' right to participate in the Olympic Games. The United States Olympic Committee threatened to use the law against the "Redneck Olympics," though it has given special dispensation to the Special Olympics. References External links Text of Act International Olympic Committee Website US Olympic & Paralympic Committee Website Text of the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act 95th United States Congress History of sports in the United States 1977 in American sports 1998 in American sports Amateur Athletic Union United States Olympic Committee United States at the Olympics Sports law