The Association, which includes international summer sports federations, strongly criticized on Friday the unprecedented decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations to grant financial rewards to gold medalists in the Mother of Games competition at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, explaining that it “raises more problems than it solves.”
In a statement with rare firmness against one of its most powerful members, the International Summer Sports Federation listed the “concerns” it intends to raise with the world athletics body, which did not consult anyone before announcing last week that it wanted to award $50,000 (47,000 euros) to each Olympic champion in the world. the future.
She added, “For many of the organization’s 30 Olympic sports members, this initiative undermines the values of the Olympic spirit and the unique character of the Games. The Olympic gold medal is priceless and should not be rewarded.”
“Moreover, not all sports can or should not take this step, even if they want to,” she added, as financial situations vary from one discipline to another.
She considered that “paying bonuses in a multi-sport environment is contrary to the principle of solidarity”, especially since athletics is one of the three best-supported federations from the International Olympic Committee – along with gymnastics and swimming – and also benefits from a lucrative attendance for its own competitions.
She explained, “For the wealthier federations, a consensus has emerged on the need to invest Olympic revenues (…) as a priority in development and integrity,” that is, the main areas that sports bodies are supposed to distinguish between “revitalists and commercial promoters.”
The IAAF responded in a statement to AFP that its decision to award prize money “aims to underscore our firm commitment to empowering athletes and recognize the crucial role they play in the success of any Olympic Games.”
She agreed that it was impossible to put a “marketing value” on winning an Olympic medal.
“But we believe it is important to ensure that some of the revenue our athletes generate at the Olympic Games goes directly back to those who make the Games the global spectacle that they are,” the International Federation added.
World Athletics’ total prize pool of $2.4 million will come from the IOC revenue allocation the federation receives every four years.
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