World Athletics Sparks Global Debate with Olympic Medal Bonuses Offer

World Athletics has set off a firestorm in the world of sports with its recent decision to offer bonuses to athletes for Olympic medals. The federation announced that it would pay $50,000 for gold, as well as bonuses for silver and bronze, in each of the 48 athletics disciplines at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This move marks the first time in Olympic history that a single sport’s governing body has offered such incentives for medal-winning performances.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, himself a former Olympic gold medalist, defended the decision, stating that it was important to give back to the athletes who make the Games a global spectacle. However, this move has raised concerns among other sports federations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the UCI, the governing body of cycling.

The IOC’s model is based on solidarity, with the majority of Olympic revenue going to various sports federations and National Olympic Committees. This system ensures that all sports benefit from the financial success of the Games. However, World Athletics’ decision to offer bonuses to its athletes has sparked debate about financial disparities between sports and the potential impact on athlete participation.

While some, like German athlete Johannes Herber, see the move as a positive step towards giving athletes their fair share of Olympic income, others, like British rowing legend Steve Redgrave, worry that it could create a two-tier system in sports. The debate continues as World Athletics prepares to implement its bonus program for the upcoming Olympics, with other federations considering their own responses to the issue.