“This Is Embarrassing”: World Athletics’s $50K Reward for Paris Olympics 2024 Leaves Track World in Splits

More youth-focused sports and greater inclusivity are introduced in the 2024 Paris Olympics plan, making the multi-sport extravaganza appealing to all. The fast approaching Summer Games also mark a shift in policies compared to the amateur history of the Olympics. On April 10, World Athletics made a major decision about prize money at the Paris Olympics. The landmark decision made them the first international federation to honor gold medal winners across 48 athletics events this year.

However, the announcement led to an argument over the shift in focus ahead of the Paris Games on social media. While some argued over the advantageous nature, others called out the organization to save their crown from the Enhanced Games. Here’s all you need to know before you form your opinion on it!

2024 Paris Olympics – Prize money inequality gives rise to divisiveness

There are 48 athletic events in the 2024 Paris Games, which will conclude with over 300 medal giveaways. World Athletics presented three key insights on X, about their umbrella decision regarding the events: World Athletics introduced $2.4 million from the International Olympic Committee’s earnings. Athletes who place first in each of the 48 athletics competitions in the Paris Games will get a $50,000 reward, divided among the team members in relay events. Additionally, World Athletics promised to increase the prize money for Olympic silver and bronze medal winners at the Games of LA 2028.

Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, shared the news, further highlighting, “We started with the Olympic dividend payments to our Member Federations, which saw us distribute an extra US$5m a year on top of existing grants aimed at athletics growth projects.” Prize money distribution, however, is contingent upon the World Athletics ratification process, which entails athletes going through and passing the anti-doping protocols.

The prize money will be deducted from the portion of Olympic earnings that the IOC gives to World Athletics and other sports governing bodies. Nevertheless, it looks like the opinions on the internet about the athletic spirit that has gone unappreciated for many years are still polarized. Don’t you think that athletes should receive compensation regardless of when the initiative starts, considering the selfless commitment, rising competition, years of training, plus unreliable national wage regulations? Here’s what people on the internet are saying.

Internet abuzz pertaining to the gold award moratorium

A plethora of social media consumers, most of whom weren’t even pro athletes, marched to call out the amount paid by World Athletics. While with time the balance was restored on the comments on X. Someone wrote, “This is embarrassing.”

Another one said, “The Olympic Spirit will completely disappear. This is an appalling decision by World Athletics.” “Scared of competition from the Enhanced games?” said one user, who dragged the digital quarrel between the organizations. “I’m sure the sponsored athletes have bonuses stipulated in their contracts, so maybe this is more open and moving with the times,” added an unbiased commenter.

One praised the decision, saying, “Awesome! The prize money will act as a great motivator,” another said, “This will be a good add on to what they already get for medaling.” There were some burning questions too, “So all along they didn’t get any prize money, jus medals and vibes?“;“Only athletics? When will all the other sports start demanding prize money?” So, where do you stand with the decision?

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