Concern over prize money for athletes

He Executive Council of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) expressed this Saturday its concern about the announcement of World Athletics to grant cash prizes to Paris 2024 champions and all Los Angeles 2028 medalists.

“While the Executive Council fully supports the athletes being recognized for their performances, it is agreed that the decision of World Athletics Awarding cash prizes to the athletes with the greatest achievements at the Games threatens to undermine the principles of Olympic unity that lie at the heart of the Olympic Games,” ANOC explained in a statement.

This group therefore supports the recent statement of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), which considers that the unilateral decision of pay $50,000 to gold medal winners in Paris “undermines the values ​​of Olympism” and “contradicts the principle of unity.”

“The Olympic Games cannot be compared to any other event and must be protected and preserved the unique values ​​of Olympism, represented by athletes of all countries,” the ANOC statement added, adding that the decision to award cash prizes to athletes should be a matter for each country in coordination with national Olympic committees and to the governments themselves. “to celebrate national success in all sports“.

World Athletics announced on April 10 that it will be the first international federation to award prize money at the Olympic Games. the Paris 2024 champions are rewarded with $50,000. The World Athletics initiative also includes a firm commitment to extend prize money to a tiered level to winners of Olympic silver and bronze medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.