of Decision to give $50,000 to track and field gold medalist in paris olympics The move has been criticized by Olympic sports organizations, who say it “undermines the values of Olympism and the uniqueness of the Games.”
Last week, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe broke with tradition and, starting this summer, gold medalists in the track and field program's 48 events will receive $2.4 million from track and field's share of the International Olympic Committee's multibillion-dollar income. Then he announced.
World Athletics has received approximately $39.5 million from the IOC for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medalists is a vital initiative to empower athletes and make them aware of the important role they play in the success of the Olympic Games,” Coe said in a statement. Stated.
Gregorio Borgia / AP
Mr Coe, a two-time Olympic champion in the men's 15,000m and a former member of the British Parliament, said the funding recognized that “athletes are the star of the show”.
Many state governments and national Olympic organizations pay prize money, but the International Olympic Committee does not.
But the Association of Summer Olympic Committees is not happy about the destruction of tradition and issued a statement Friday criticizing the move.
“For many, this move undermines the values of Olympism and the uniqueness of the Games,” the organization, also known by the acronym ASOIF, said on Friday. “You cannot and should not put a price on Olympic gold medals. In many cases, Olympic medalists benefit indirectly from commercial endorsements, which are often associated with unprivileged They ignore the players.”
In a statement, ASOIF said World Athletics was not informed or consulted about last week's announcement and expressed concern that it was announced the day after the ASOIF general meeting. Mr. Coe is a member of the ASOIF Governing Council.
“Over the past few days, ASOIF members have expressed several concerns about World Athletics' announcement,” the organization, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Olympic host city, said in a statement.
ASOIF suggested that “not all sports can and should not be able to replicate this move, even if they wanted to.” The payment of prize money is “against the principle of solidarity” and could take money away from the work that is the duty of governing bodies compared to commercial promoters of sporting events.
“If the Olympics are considered the pinnacle of each sport, then the prize money should be comparable to and commensurate with the prizes awarded at the highest competitions in each sport,” the group said. “This is technically and financially unfeasible.”
In its statement, ASOIF also fueled speculation about next year's election as IOC president, when Thomas Bach's 12-year term expires. But Mr Coe's allies want to change the Olympic Charter to allow him to stay until he turns 68 this year, which could be blocked by age limit rules.
The opposition from the Olympic sports world, where leaders are among the approximately 100 IOC members who elect the president, raises questions about how athletes should be rewarded in the often closed world of IOC politics. It is highly likely that this was predicted by Mr. Coe, who has raised this issue.
The cash promise is popular with U.S. athletes in various sports preparing to compete in the Paris Games, with teams offering $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for a silver medal and $15,000 for a bronze medal. can be obtained. The Paris Olympics will begin on July 26th.
