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The Paris Olympics involve about 10,500 athletes representing about 200 countries or regions. But the Olympics are more than just fun and games. They are a giant business that generated $7.6 billion in income for the International Olympic Committee over the latest four-year cycle. They're also a proxy for geopolitical influence seen through the standings in the medal tables, the presence of world leaders at the opening ceremony and the national anthems serenading gold-medal winners.
