Should national team athletes be allowed to join show business?

Pulcheria Chung, 18 St Mary's Canossian College

First, it's important to know the objective of being a sportsman. A sportsman's mission is to fully develop one's potential, work hard with teammates and win glory for the country. The main focus in the entertainment scene is to make money, gain public exposure and become famous. They are two completely different careers.

If an athlete joins the showbiz scene, there will be a lot of distractions and a possible conflict of interest. His showbiz schedule could interfere with his training, leading to poor performance on the sports field.

It's unfair to other national team members who work twice as hard but earn only half as much as their more famous compatriots. It could lower team morale and set a poor example for up-and-coming sportsmen.

In this context, Olympic diver Tian Liang's actions are irresponsible. If the 2004 Athens gold-medallist wants to think about life after retirement, he should have quit before signing showbiz contracts.

Tian hopes to hold on to his place in the national team although he has missed training sessions to accommodate his showbiz activities. This is unacceptable.