Jake,

I'd agree that the Olympics is supposed to be about the atheletes. Or at least, it should be! I don't suppose the ancient Greeks did an awful lot of equipment development.

However, I suspect there are an many vested interested that want the development, quite apart from the atheletes themselves looking for the edge. I'd argue that the Olympics are purer without it. I don't think this would stop innovation in its tracks - just look at non-Olympic sports: they don't lack technical innovation. e.g. mountain biking had been going for 20-40 years before it became an Olympic event, and by that time there were carbon, full suspension bikes.

I suppose that the 'vested interests' would argue for all out development classes. I think that an Alter Cup style arrangement would satisfy all: allow development of equipment over time, while leveling the playing field for competitors at the Games.