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The payment of a prize of $50,000 for each Olympic gold, approved by World Athletics starting from Paris 2024, but criticized by the rest of the federations, it is seen favorably by the renowned athletes and legends of world sport.
Among them, there are athletes such as the sprinter like Edwin Mosesor the tennis player Martina Navratilovawho only regret having arrived late to those incentives.
“I’ve been talking about it for 40 years, for me it’s nothing new”said Moses, a two-time Olympic 400-meter hurdles champion (1976 and 1984).
“When talking about the distinction between professional and amateur sports, I was the first one to skip out and get a sponsor something that was illegal. I have talked about it many times: the athletes had to be paid, each one had to receive compensation. The money is there, the budget is there. It is not new but it has taken 40 years for this to surface,” said the former American athlete.
A member of the Laureus Academy who will present his 2024 Awards in Madrid this Monday, Moses shared with other legends an analysis of the current moment and the payment of prizes in exchange for medals.
“It is a step in the right direction”assured Martina Navratilova.
“The Olympic Games are always the biggest event, in which everyone earns money except athletes“said the Czech-American former tennis player and nine-time Wimbledon champion.
He is also an extensionist Boris Becker He was equally blunt when he assured that “Athletes should not be last” in the distribution of Olympic funds.
“Sebastian Coe is a colleague at the Laureus Academy and president of World Athletics and, well, finally someone agrees with the times,” said the German about the awards.
He Brazilian surfer Filipe Toledotwo-time world champion, indicated that cash prizes are essential for the professionalization of athletes and to advance goals of equality and inclusion.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “The awards, equal for men and women, make people grow and open opportunities.”
The association of Olympic federations (ASOIF) considers, however, that the payment of money decided unilaterally by World Athletics “undermines” the Olympic spirit.
