How much will the French and international medalists earn?

The French have seen their state bonuses increase compared to the last Olympics, but they remain well below those of many other nations.

Gold does not have the same price everywhere. Even if Olympic and Paralympic medals are mainly about prestige, nations award bonuses to athletes who finish on the podium. Only some delegations choose to implement financial rewards. For its home Games, France has chosen to increase its bonuses for its medal-winning athletes.

With the decree of January 30, 2024, the Ministry of Sports established a new bonus scale. For Olympic or Paralympic champions, a bonus of 80,000 euros will be paid. Silver medalists will receive 40,000 euros, while bronze medalists will get 20,000 euros. It should be noted that these bonuses have been taxable since 2011.

These bonuses are not new, but their amount has increased steadily in recent Olympics. For example, in 2004 in Athens, the bonus for a gold medal was 40,000 euros. In Tokyo in 2021, the bonuses for gold and silver medalists were 15,000 euros lower, and 5,000 euros for bronze medalists, compared to this year.

For this edition in Paris, there will also be changes for the coaches. While they previously received only a sum equivalent to 50% of their athletes’ bonus, they will now receive the same amount. Some countries are showing greater generosity in motivating their athletes, especially those nations less accustomed to Olympic success.

For the Paris Games, Singapore is the country offering the highest bonus, with a million dollars (919,000 euros) offered by the country’s National Olympic Council for their Olympic champions. A sum that is necessarily very motivating for the athletes, even if 20% of this amount must be donated to finance their sport. In its history, the city-state has only won five medals, including one gold. In Europe, the Italian Olympic Committee also stands out with substantial bonuses, which can reach 180,000 euros for a title.

On the other hand, other nations do not reward their champions as generously. United States Olympic and Paralympic Committeethe leading nation in the medal table, is only offering the equivalent of 34,000 euros for a gold medal, but individual federations can add their own bonuses. USA Swimming, the swimming federation, is promising an additional 68,900 euros.

Germany is also not among the most generous, with bonuses reaching only 20,000 euros from the Deutsche Sporthilfe, an association mainly financed by donations, fundraising, lotteries and stamps.

Several countries have even chosen not to pay bonuses to their medal-winning athletes, as is the case with the British Olympic Committee. The British do not follow this policy, since they already pay a salaries to their athletes so that they can compete in the Games.