Winners of monitor and area occasions at this 12 months’s Olympics in Paris will obtain greater than only a gold medal. They’ll additionally get a $50,000 prize.
World Athletics, the governing physique for monitor and area, mentioned Wednesday it should allocate $2.4 million from the Worldwide Olympic Committee’s income sharing to winners in 48 occasions. It’s the primary time a sport has provided prize cash on the Olympics, the quadrennial spectacle that was as soon as thought to be the top of novice athletics.
“The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medalists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognizing the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games,” federation President Sebastian Coe mentioned in a assertion.
Funds for silver and bronze medalists will start on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, mentioned Coe, who received gold medals within the 1500-meter race for Nice Britain in 1980 and 1984. Relay groups that win gold medals will cut up the $50,000 prize among the many 4 members.
When requested by reporters whether or not the transfer violated the spirit of the Olympic Video games, Coe mentioned, “I don’t think it does,” in response to the Guardian.
“My view is that the world has changed,” he mentioned. “It’s really important that where possible, we create a sport that is financially viable for our competitors. This is the beginning of that.”
The cost of prize cash will rely upon the World Athletics ratification course of, together with athletes present process and clearing the same old anti-doping procedures, the federation mentioned.