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Olympic great Sir Steve Redgrave believes paying prize money to track and field gold medalists at the Paris 2024 Games will polarize athletes.
Last month, World Athletics announced that this summer's competition would be the first in Olympic history to offer prize money, with the winners of 48 events receiving US$50,000 (£39,400).
All three track and field medalists will receive cash prizes at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, but five-time Olympic rowing champion Redgrave said there will be a big “us and them” situation at the sport's biggest event. is claimed to be born.
He said: “All of the gold medalists in track and field are definitely capable of making a lot of money before and after (Paris). That means they're giving money to people who already have money.
“I understand the argument that track and field is the centerpiece of the Olympics, but for those who are drawing audiences into the competitions and into the Olympics itself, this is a step in the right direction.
“But it becomes an us-versus-them situation. I was fine, even though I made more money in retirement than I did in rowing, but I disagree.
“We want to see if that money can go to other sports and help them.
“That's never going to happen. But I think it helps people with mental problems at lower levels and makes sure they protect the grassroots of their sport and have access to funding schemes from there. I hope you do.”
The relationship between rowing and the modern Olympics dates back to the first Games in Athens in 1896, when the games were canceled due to bad weather.
Since then, the sport has been featured in every competition, with a women's event being introduced at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
But Redgrave worries that rowing's Olympic status is in jeopardy due to a lack of funding and media space being taken over by other sports.
“There are stars in basketball, tennis and golf who don't need the money, but sports like mine are fighting to survive in the Olympics,” Redgrave told the PA news agency at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid. Told.
“There are other issues with that, but the reason my sport can survive internationally is because of the money that international federations get from competing in the Olympics.
“If that were to go away, our sport would disappear. You can debate whether we are relevant in today's world, but we are the founding sport of the Olympics and , I think so.
“But there is debate as to whether it only supports media-friendly sports.”
The state-of-the-art Vert-sur-Marne Marine Stadium will host rowing as well as canoe and kayak competitions at the Paris 2024 Games.
The 2,200-meter rowing and sprint canoe/kayaking course will feature a finishing tower, sports medicine center, weight training base, various administrative spaces, a media center, and a training and accommodation center.
However, Mr Redgrave was concerned about rowing's long-term Olympic future, saying:
“Los Angeles has water issues, so it will be a shorter distance instead of the traditional 2,000 meters.
“The IOC (International Olympic Committee) wants the Games to be held as compactly as possible, and the rowing events will take place in marinas that have to be cleared.
“Then the distance is shortened. Once you pass the bridge, the race is shortened to 1,500 meters.”
