Olympics - what is the reality regarding getting cameras in?

To continue your analogy, if someone showed up and did my job for free, sure, I'd allow it, but they wouldn't be able to turn in the work because they probably aren't allowed to as they aren't an employee and don't have the rights coverage.

The same applies to photographers with "professional" cameras. I can take "professional" style photos but in the end, I won't be able to turn them in to any big media because I don't have the rights, contracts, and access. So let me try to make the best of it with my equipment from the nose bleeders and enjoy my photos for my own personal use. As long as I'm not disturbing other attendees, I'm not doing anything wrong, compare this with those folks that go in front of everyone with their point and shoots and flash the crap out of the players. Who's more distracting there?