World Athletics has broken 128 years of Olympic tradition – and set itself on a potential collision course with the International Olympic Committee – by announcing that it will become the first international sports to give athletes money for winning a gold medal at the Games.
Starting in Paris this summer, track and field athletes who win gold in each of the 48 events will also walk away with $50,000. World Athletics have also promised to extend the cash prizes to Olympic silver and bronze medal winners at the LA 2028 Games.
The decision is particularly striking given that the IOC has never awarded money for participating or winning a medal at the Olympics – arguing that to compete at a Games is reward enough.
In a statement explaining his decision, World Athletics president Seb Coe said it was right that his federation passed on $2.4m of the money it gets from the IOC every four years to reward athletes.
“The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medallists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognising the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games,” he said.
“While it is impossible to put a marketable value on winning an Olympic medal, or on the commitment and focus it takes to even represent your country at an Olympic Games, I think it is important we start somewhere and make sure some of the revenues generated by our athletes at the Olympic Games are directly returned to those who make the Games the global spectacle that it is.”
Coe said he had not spoken to the IOC president Thomas Bach about the decision. “But I am hoping they would welcome it,” he said, pointing out that the IOC also invested money back into sport. “The world has changed, and it is really important that where possible we give money to athletes.”
Asked whether winning a gold medal should be enough, and whether paying athletes might go against the Olympic spirit, Coe added: “I don’t think it does. If I thought athletes were only competing for a financial pot, I might take a different view. But the world has changed and this is just a recognition we can make a contribution across all our 48 disciplines. And as we grow as a sport I want to increase that pot.”