Contestants for the Scripps spelling bee used to need to have won a regional championship in order to qualify for the "main event". Now, the spelling bee has changed to a new model: pony up the cash, and we'll let you compete even if can't spell c-r-o-n-y-i-s-m.
In fact, 2018's winner, 14-year-old Karthik Nemmani, was part of a group of kids who lost at regionals but whose parents agreed to pay an entry fee of $750 - on top of paying for their family’s travel and lodging.
The price to play moved from $750 last year to $1500 this year. This year’s spelling bee is the second that includes a pay-to-play option for kids who misspelled a word at the regional spelling bee and didn’t qualify for the finals. More than half of the 562 entrants paid to get into the Spelling Bee this year.
Now, any wealthy family can have their child enter into the competition, regardless of their skill level!
https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-the-spelling-bee-a-new-word-is-m-o-n-e-y-11558702800https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/29/now-you-can-pay-play-national-spelling-bee