Current:Home > reviewsPrize money for track & field Olympic gold medalists is 'right thing to do' -TradeStation
Prize money for track & field Olympic gold medalists is 'right thing to do'
View
Date:2025-04-12 23:45:33
PARIS – There’s extra incentive for track and field athletes to win gold at the Paris Olympics.
World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, is awarding prize money for gold medalists in Paris. They are the first international federation to award prize money at an Olympic Games.
World Athletics announced on April 10 that it set aside $2.4 million from the International Olympic Committee’s revenue share allocation that it receives every four years. The money will be used to reward athletes $50,000 for winning a gold medal in each of the 48 track and field events in Paris.
"Part of our strategy going forward, and it has been for the last few years, to make sure we reward our athletes. They are the stars of the show. I think they deserve as our income grows to share an increased part of that," World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon said Thursday at their Olympic press conference. "It’s the right thing to do."
➤ Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports' WhatsApp Channel
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
The federation received criticism from Olympic sport bodies following its prize money announcement.
"First, for many, this move undermines the values of Olympism and the uniqueness of the Games," Association of Summer Olympic International Federations said in a statement. "One cannot and should not put a price on an Olympic gold medal and, in many cases, Olympic medalists indirectly benefit from commercial endorsements. This disregards the less privileged athletes lower down the final standings."
The International Olympic Committee doesn’t pay prize money. However, governments or national Olympic committees pay athletes who reach the podium. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee will pay $37,500 for every gold medal in Paris, $22,500 for every silver and $15,000 for each bronze.
World Athletics is committed to extend the initiative for Olympic silver and bronze medalists at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Cross country at Winter Olympics?
Cross country is a sport that takes place in the winter months. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe hopes the sport can soon find a place in the Winter Olympics. Coe, who's had tentative discussions about adding cross country to the Winter Olympics, believes the inclusion of cross country will draw more attention to the sport and bring large contingents from countries in Africa to the Winter Games.
"We've had good discussions," Coe said Thursday. "I think its obvious home is the Winter (Olympics). To use a cricket analogy, there's more than an outside edge of a chance that we could probably get this across the line."
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- No charges yet in weekend crash that killed 2 siblings at Michigan birthday party
- Rachel McAdams Shares How Her Family Is Supporting Her Latest Career Milestone
- West Virginia confirms first measles case since 2009
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Minnesota and other Democratic-led states lead pushback on censorship. They’re banning the book ban
- Tesla cuts prices around the globe amid slowing demand for its EVs
- Candace Cameron Bure Reveals How She “Almost Died” on Set of Fuller House Series
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Put a Spring in Your Step With Kate Spade's $31 Wallets, $55 Bags & More (Plus, Save an Extra 20% Off)
Ranking
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- California announces first new state park in a decade and sets climate goals for natural lands
- How Gigi Hadid Dove Into a Deep Relationship With Bradley Cooper
- Dramatic dashcam video shows good Samaritans rush to pull man from burning car
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Seven big-name college football standouts who could be in for long wait in 2024 NFL draft
- The fatal shooting of an Ohio officer during a training exercise being probed as a possible homicide
- What is a recession? The economic concept explained. What causes and happens during one.
Recommendation
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
Knicks go up 2-0 in first round of NBA playoffs after Sixers blow lead in final minute
When red-hot isn’t enough: New government heat risk tool sets magenta as most dangerous level
Buffalo Sabres hire Lindy Ruff again: What to know about their new/old coach
All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
Patti Smith was 'moved' to be mentioned on Taylor Swift's 'Tortured Poets Department'
John Travolta Reveals His Kids' Honest Reaction to His Movies
Columbia switches to hybrid learning amid protests over Israel’s war in Gaza