With less than four months to go before the start of the Paris Olympics the war of controversies has taken yet another center turn after the World Athletics President Sebastian Coe announced last week that gold medallists in Paris will each earn $50,000. The decision which has not gone well with many international associations was slammed by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) President David Lappartient terming the initiative “against the Olympic spirit” ahead of the Games.

UCI President blasts WA

“We really believe that this is not the Olympic spirit,” UCI President David Lappartient told reporters on the sidelines of the Paris Olympics torch lighting ceremony.

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“The proposal (by World Athletics) was not discussed. It was (announced) on the day of our mother organisation’s meeting. It should have been on the agenda,” he added.

“The Olympic spirit is to share revenues and have more athletes compete worldwide. Not only put all the money on the top athletes but spread the money.

“If we concentrate money on top athletes, a lot of opportunities will disappear for athletes all over the world.”

Currently, no association rewards with prize money for athletes for winning an Olympic medal. However last week World Athletics President Coe announced that athletes winning gold medals at Paris Olympics will be rewarded with $50,000. While there will be no rewards for the silver and gold medal winners, the plan includes rewarding them at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

As things stand, WA will reward a $2.4 million prize pot to the 48 gold medallists in Paris. A total of $540 million was allocated to the 28 sports at the previous Games in Tokyo, with World Athletics receiving the most at $40 million.

Reason for backlash

The move to reward prize money was met with heavy criticism from other sporting associations due to pay parity which does not exist currently. Five-time Olympic rowing champion Steve Redgrave called it an unfair decision to other sports that cannot afford to do the same. While there is no protest and is an independent decision from the WA, it is likely to be a hot topic of debate in the build-up to the Olympics.

The move will only spark more controversy in the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics when athletes will be rewarded for winning silver and bronze medals.

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