NEW YORK (AP) — They compete for trophies, rings, the chance to be called champions and sometimes a place in history. Most of the world's best athletes in all types of sports also compete for cold hard cash.
After more than 100 years of striving to win an Olympic gold medal and getting nothing from the organizers of the Games, the Paris Olympic track and field athletes are determined to win the sport's governing body, World Athletics. Thanks to the federation, you'll be joining that money-making club.
In an unprecedented development, runners, throwers and jumpers will line up at the Stade de France in August to win a check for $50,000 in exchange for a gold medal. It's a novel (some might say outdated) concept, and athletes in other sports are wondering if they can get a piece of the action.
“I mean, who would want to turn down money?” said Daniela Ramirez, a junior artistic swimmer at UCLA.
Last week's news made headlines not because anyone could get rich, but because it marked the first time someone in charge, someone running the show, was dipping into a safe for prize money. The International Olympic Committee continues to do this. resist.
That hasn't stopped countries from paying medal winners in all sports for years. For example, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee runs “Project Gold,” which donates $37,500 in gold, $22,500 in silver, and $15,000 in bronze.
And this year's host nation will give France's gold medalists about $85,000 each.
These kinds of payments and endorsement deals, commonplace in the upper echelons of sports, echo an old concept on which the Olympics were founded: that athletes should be true amateurs playing purely for the love of the sport. I had long ago shattered that old concept.
It's a relic of at least 40 years.
Understandably, athletes attending this week's Team USA Media Summit in New York were interested in following the latest developments.
“I'm not jealous,” said diver Andrew Capobianco, who won silver in Tokyo three years ago. “But I hope it applies to all other sports as well. I hope they are the pioneers in that. I wish there was more funding for Olympic athletes, especially the smaller sports. I think it’s wonderful.”
This has also caught the attention of leaders in several sports. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe described the move as a simple piece of fairness, but the Olympics are a multibillion-dollar business. Athletes need to earn their share. Some in his world see it as a calculated move to boost his profile as a candidate for IOC president.
Speaking at the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia on Tuesday, the president of the International Cycling Federation criticized Mr Coe for withdrawing the news without first discussing it with other sporting leaders.
“If we focus our money only on the top athletes, the gold medalists, then of course we're going to miss out on a lot of opportunities for athletes around the world,” said David Lapartient.
Jean-Christophe Rolland, president of World Rowing, said all available funds should be used to develop and promote the Olympic sport.
“Obviously we need athletes,” he said. “But we also need to make sure we have athletes tomorrow and the day after.”
Of course, we don't need to tell those vying for medals this summer that the Olympic journey isn't necessarily a path to riches.
“Whether money is involved or not, I'm not too worried,” said sailor Hans Henken. “But I think it's great to be able to provide some funding to grow the sport and help athletes continue to train and continue to compete.”
Some people, like artistic swimmer Ramirez, say it's never a bad thing to have a little extra in your wallet, but you can do without cash.
Just aiming to win a medal is enough.
“Using (money) as a motivating factor is not something I personally wanted to see in my (life),” she said. “I don't think that's something that should be in my mind. It should be a plus, like a bonus at the end of the year. …I just love this sport and I think that's what motivates me. think.”
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AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
