Olympic committee NOC*NSF to stop awarding bonuses to medal winners after next Games

NOC*NSF will stop awarding bonuses to medal winners after the Milan Olympic and Paralympic Games. The National Olympic Committee currently allocates 2 million euros for each full Olympic cycle (Summer and Winter Games) but now considers this expense unjustifiable. "NOC*NSF prioritizes talent development, athlete support, and well-prepared participation in international competitions," the federation stated.

The medal bonus in Milan is 30,000 euros for gold, 15,000 euros for silver, and bronze winners get 7,500 euros. Athletes are entitled to a maximum of one bonus payment. Paralympians receive a gold bonus of 20,000 euros.The gap between Olympic and Paralympic bonuses has narrowed in recent years. NOC*NSF said that this reflects the developments in Paralympic sport.

NOC*NSF has said that ending the bonuses is a necessary decision. "Stopping the bonus system is especially painful for winners in sports with few sponsorships," said André Cats, NOC*NSF's director of elite sports. "Many top athletes live on a minimum income because they prioritize their sports careers. Even a stipend, a payment linked to their athlete status, is modest." Cats also described the bonus as a token of appreciation.

Cats has long advocated for proper income support for elite athletes. "Elite sports is a full-time profession that should be fairly compensated so athletes can support themselves. This also includes pension schemes." NOC*NSF, together with sports federations, is in talks about this with, among others, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS).

The athletes’ committee is unhappy with the decision. “We have been advocating for years for better income conditions for all athletes, including pension schemes,” said chairwoman Inge Janssen on NOC*NSF’s website. “We also want the income limit abolished so athletes have more freedom to earn money alongside their stipend. We are in good talks with NOC*NSF about this. That’s why we find the timing of this decision disappointing, as there is currently no clear prospect of concrete improvements in income support or more commercial opportunities in the Olympic and Paralympic agreements.”