The European Olympic Committees (EOC) president, Spyros Capralos, has voiced strong criticism against World Athletics for its decision to award prize money exclusively to gold medallists at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The move, announced earlier this year, marks World Athletics as the first federation to offer financial rewards to gold medallists at the Olympics, but Capralos argues that the policy is inherently discriminatory.
World Athletics has allocated a total prize fund of US$2.4 million (approximately Ksh312 million) from its share of revenue provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) every four years. Each gold medallist will receive US$50,000 (Ksh6.5 million), with the same amount set aside for relay teams, which will distribute the prize money among their members.
Capralos has condemned this approach, asserting that it unfairly excludes silver and bronze medallists, despite their significant achievements. He emphasized that all medallists should be recognized for their excellence and dedication, not just the gold medallists. “This decision undermines the values of equality and fairness that the Olympics stand for,” Capralos stated.
In a similar move, the International Boxing Federation has also decided to offer prize money to its athletes, joining World Athletics in this initiative. However, these two federations remain the only ones to have introduced such financial incentives for the Paris 2024 Games.
World Athletics has defended its decision, suggesting that it is a step forward in recognizing the hard work and success of the athletes. However, they have acknowledged the concerns raised and announced plans to extend the prize money to include silver and bronze medallists at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. This future inclusion aims to address the current criticism and promote a more inclusive reward system.
The debate over this decision highlights broader issues surrounding athlete compensation and recognition at the Olympics. While the introduction of prize money is a significant shift, it has also sparked a conversation about how to ensure fair treatment and appreciation for all Olympic medallists.
As the Paris 2024 Games approach, it remains to be seen how this controversy will unfold and whether other federations will follow suit or adopt different approaches to prize money distribution. For now, the focus is on ensuring that the spirit of the Olympics – celebrating excellence, unity, and fair competition – remains intact.
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