In a major boost to track & field events, the World Athletics is set to introduce a prize money at the Paris 2024 Olympics for the very first time, with the gold winners slated to pocket a hefty sum of $50,000 each. The athletics body clarified on Wednesday, that they would allocate $2.4 million to gold medal winners across 48 events in the track and field category. As for the relay teams, the money would be equally divided among the winners.
Nothing for the Silver & Bronze Medalists
But there is a down side to this decision as well. The athletes finishing second and third in their respective events, would not receive any prize money at Paris 2024. The process of rewarding the runners-up and the second runners-up will only start from Los Angeles 2028.
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World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said, “While it is impossible to put a marketable value on winning an Olympic medal… 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.”
Neeraj Chopra in the Fray
Undoubtedly, Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra would be the prime candidate to bag this $50,000 prize money. The 26-year-old has been consistent in the last few years, and there is no reason why he can’t repeat his feat from Tokyo 2020. Although the competition for Neeraj Chopra might be on the higher side this year, but as has been the norm, he would be ready for the challenge.
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