Monitor and subject has turn into the primary sport to introduce prize cash on the Olympics, with all particular person gold medallists on the 2024 Paris Video games to pocket $US50,000 ($A75,500).
World Athletics (WA) president Sebastian Coe made the announcement on Wednesday, solely a matter of hours after the game’s governing physique knowledgeable the Worldwide Olympic Committee of the historic transfer.
WA has put aside $US2.4 million ($A3.6 million) to pay the gold medallists throughout the 48 occasions on the monitor and subject program on the Paris Olympics.
Relay groups will break up the $US50,000 between their members.
Coe mentioned the funds would additionally lengthen to silver and bronze medallists from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics onwards.
“And as we proceed to develop the industrial dimension and attain of the game, it is my intention to proceed to develop the prize pot,” Coe instructed reporters in a teleconference on Wednesday.
“We would have liked to begin someplace and I believe this can be a cheap begin.
“It is actually the game’s dedication and I hope … recognition for the athletes that they’re largely the explanation why we’re the No.1 Olympic sport.”
Coe refused to be drawn on whether or not different sports activities or the IOC itself ought to now observe monitor and subject’s lead in providing prize cash for Olympic gold.
“That is actually a matter for these particular person sports activities,” he mentioned.
“I’ve at all times made it some extent to not communicate on behalf of different sports activities, any greater than I’d need different sports activities to be talking on behalf of athletics.
“It’s fully a matter for them and that is a judgment they should make and for the worldwide Olympic motion as properly.”
By comparability, gold medallists on the biennial outside world athletics championships now take house $US70,000 ($A105,600) apiece, and minor medallists are additionally recompensed.
WA makes 95 per cent of its whole income from its varied world championships.
The fashionable Olympics originated as an novice sports activities occasion and historically don’t award prize cash, although many medallists obtain funds from their nations’ governments, nationwide sports activities our bodies or from sponsors.
