IOC President Thomas Bach Opposes World Athletics Prize Money Plan for Paris 2024 Olympics
The debate over prize money for Olympic gold medalists has taken center stage as the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, has expressed his disapproval of World Athletics’ plans to introduce such incentives at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe recently announced that track and field champions at the Paris Games would receive $50,000, a move that has sparked mixed reactions within the sports community. While some leading athletes have welcomed the initiative, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on the equality and fairness of the Games.
In an exclusive interview with AFP, Bach emphasized the importance of international sports federations focusing on reducing inequalities between countries rather than introducing prize money initiatives. He stressed the need for all member federations to treat their athletes equally and strive to bridge the gap between the privileged and underprivileged.
Bach also highlighted the role of national Olympic committees in motivating athletes with prize money, noting that he himself received financial rewards from the German committee for his fencing gold medal in 1976. He emphasized the distinct responsibilities of international federations and national Olympic committees within the Olympic movement.
The announcement by Coe has not been well-received by all, with some sports bosses expressing concerns that it could further entrench the advantages of wealthy countries. The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) criticized the move, stating that it undermined the values of Olympism, while the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa called it “repugnant to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement.”
As the debate continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medalists will impact the future of the Games and the values they represent.