Athletics becomes first sport to offer prize money to Olympians $50,000 for gold at Paris Olympics

Sky News carries an article about winners in the 48 track and field events at the Paris Games who will take home around 39,000 pounds, payments for silver and bronze medallists are planned to start at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Caliber.Az reprints the article.

Athletics will become the first sport to introduce prize money at the Olympics this summer.

World Athletics, the international athletics federation, says it will pay Olympic gold medal winners $50,000 (around 39,400 pounds) at the Paris games.

The athletics governing body said it is setting aside $2.4 million (1.89 million pounds) to pay the gold medallists across 48 events at Paris' track and field programme.

Relay teams will split the $50,000 between their members.

Payments for silver and bronze medallists are planned to begin at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: "The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medallists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognising the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games.

"This is the continuation of a journey we started back in 2015, which sees all the money World Athletics receives from the International Olympic Committee for the Olympic Games go directly back into our sport."