image source, Getty Images
Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herra wins three gold medals at the 2021 Tokyo Games
World Athletics has announced that it will become the first international federation to award prize money at the Olympic Games.
The world governing body has announced that there will be a total of $2.4 million (£1.9 million) in prize money for this summer’s Paris Olympics, with gold medalists receiving $50,000 (£39,400).
This will also be extended to silver and bronze medalists at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
World Athletics chairman Lord Coe called the decision a “pivotal moment.”
He told BBC Sport the organization wanted to create a “stable financial situation” for athletes.
48 track and field competitions will be held in Paris, and relay gold medalists will share prize money among their teams.
As para athletics is under the jurisdiction of the World Para Athletics Federation, prize money will not apply to the Paralympic Games, which will be held from August 28 to September 8.
“The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medalists is a pivotal moment for the World Athletics Championships and athletics as a whole, and represents our commitment to empower athletes and recognize the important role they play in the success of the Olympic Games. It highlights our efforts,” said Mr Koh. He said.
“It’s impossible to put a market value on the effort and focus it takes to win a medal at the Olympics or represent your country at the Olympics, but you can start somewhere and make sure you capture some of the revenue generated. I think it is important to ensure that the achievements of our athletes at the Olympic Games go directly back to the people who make the Olympics a global spectacle. ”
Greg Rutherford, long jump gold medalist at the 2012 London Games, said: “This is a great step in the right direction and hats off to Seb Coe and the rest of the World Athletics staff for starting this improvement.” .
The former British athlete said the view that Olympic competition remains amateur “couldn’t be further from the truth”.
Asked if the prize money went against the Olympic spirit, Mr Coe said: “I don’t see how we can make athletes’ lives even a little bit easier, maybe allow them to continue competing a little longer, and give them financial independence.” Perhaps a more sophisticated approach could be based on the firm principles of the Olympic Games. There will be something other than acting. ”
World Athletics said the format and structure of the prize money for the 2028 event would be announced soon.
It added that the payment of prize money would depend on whether the athlete “subjects to and clears normal anti-doping procedures”.
Considering the origins of the Olympics as an amateur sporting event, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not award prize money, but distributes funds through International Federations (IFs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
Some national Olympic committees offer financial rewards to medalists, but the British Olympic Association does not.
“It is the responsibility of each IF and NOC to decide how to best serve athletes and the global development of sport,” the IOC said.
“Athletes make a lot of sacrifices” – Rutherford
Rutherford, who was also a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, said he hoped other sports could adopt the same approach as world athletics.
“Athletes around the world make tremendous sacrifices to earn the most difficult honor in sports: becoming an Olympic champion. Standing atop the podium and hearing the national anthem is one of the greatest emotions. ” he said.
“However, while athletes are under constant scrutiny, along with comparisons to success stories in other sports, the lack of financial support given to them is always left unmentioned.”
The 2015 long jump world champion said, “For the long-term health of the Olympic movement, athletes in every sport, through their efforts, as well as the multibillion-dollar IOC and their individual sports, will ultimately I sincerely hope for your support,” he added.
“We do this for the love of the sport, but it’s also our livelihood.”
Sweden’s Olympic pole vault champion Armando Duplantis said World Athletics’ move was “a step in the right direction”.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Olympic 400m hurdles champion Karsten Warholm said the prize money would still motivate him to win Olympic gold, but agreed it was the “right direction” in building the professional sport.
