Olympic sports organizations on Friday criticized World Athletics for pledging to pay $50,000 for each track and field gold medal won at the Paris Olympics.
Last week's move by the track and field organization and its president Sebastian Coe broke with tradition, as the International Olympic Committee does not pay prize money, even though many state governments and national Olympic organizations do.
“For many, this move undermines the values of Olympism and the uniqueness of the Olympic Games,” the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, known by its acronym ASOIF, said on Friday.
Speculation also increased over next year's election as IOC president, when Thomas Bach's 12-year term expires. But Mr Coe's allies want to change the Olympic Charter to allow him to stay until he turns 68 this year, which could be blocked by age limit rules.
Coe, a two-time Olympic champion in the men's 1,500 meters, will donate $2.4 million ($50,000 for each of his 48 track and field gold medals) from his sport's share of the IOC's multibillion-dollar revenue. promised. WA has received approximately $39.5 million from the IOC for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Mr Coe, a former member of the British Parliament, said the funding recognized that “athletes are the star of the show”.
ASOIF, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Olympic host city, said: “At least for commercially successful and financially independent IFs, Olympic proceeds should be prioritized for investment in development and health issues. There is a consensus on that,” he said.
The timing of Mr Coe's pledge also surprised many. The meeting comes a day after ASOIF's annual general meeting in Birmingham, England, where Mr Coe is also a member of its Governing Council.
“Over the past few days, ASOIF members have expressed several concerns about World Athletics' announcement,” the group said.
“You cannot and should not put a price on Olympic gold medals. In many cases, Olympic medalists indirectly benefit from commercial endorsements,” ASOIF said. “This ignores the underprivileged athletes who are lower in the final standings.”
ASOIF suggested that “not all sports can or should be able to replicate this move, even if they wanted to.” Payment of prize money is “against the principle of solidarity” and could take funds away from the work that is the duty of governing bodies compared to commercial promoters of sporting events.
The opposition from the Olympic sports world, where leaders are among the approximately 100 IOC members who elect the president, raises questions about how athletes should be rewarded in the often closed world of IOC politics. It is highly likely that this was predicted by Mr. Coe, who has raised this issue.
The cash promise is popular with U.S. athletes in various sports preparing to compete in the Paris Games, with teams offering $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for a silver medal and $15,000 for a bronze medal. can be obtained. The Paris Olympics will begin on July 26th.
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