August 6, 2024, 9:18 PM
August 6, 2024, 9:18 PM
Here is a collection of the most unusual awards promised to Olympic athletes in Paris and others awarded in Tokyo-2020 and rio-2016:
• Mexico –
The Mexican medalists will receive a financial reward financed with funds confiscated by the United States Department of Justice from a politician from the state of Coahuila accused of money laundering, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced.
• Colombia –
In an alliance with the Colombian Olympic Committee, the airline Avianca will give miles to Colombian medalists: 100,000 for those who win gold, 50,000 for silver and 30,000 for bronze.
• Hong Kong –
Hong Kong fencers Cheung Ka Long and Vivian Kong Man Wai, gold medalists in Paris, received Lifetime metro passes as a gift from the local government.
The Pure gym chain is also giving away unlimited memberships to the 35 Olympic athletes from the Chinese metropolis, so that they can continue “representing Hong Kong at the highest level.”
• South Korea –
Any Olympic medal won will guarantee South Korean athletes a exemption from military service, mandatory in the Asian country for all able-bodied men for at least 18 months.
The six South Korean archers who won four of the five gold medals in Tokyo 2020 also received cars donated by their sponsor, the manufacturer Hyundai.
• Malaysia –
Food delivery company Grab has promised free deliveries to the athlete who wins Malaysia’s first-ever gold medal at the Paris Games.
The winner may also have a Chery brand SUV and a luxury apartment from developer Top Residency, the government announced.
• Poland –
Also very generous is the package promised to any Pole who becomes Olympic champion in an individual event: a diamond, a bonus of about 60,000 euros, a two room apartmenta painting and a holiday voucher.
The other medalists will also receive their rewards, essentially bonuses.
“I wanted our athletes (…) to be treated in a special and unique way,” Radosław Piesiewicz, the president of the Polish Olympic Committee, recently said.
• Iraq –
Iraqi athletes qualified for the Paris Games received a plot of land and a payment of about $7,200according to the Olympic committee. They will also receive a monthly salary of 400,000 dinars ($300) from the government.
Weightlifter Ali Ammar Yasser received a car and a parcel of land after qualifying. The committee has promised him a million dollars if he returns from Paris with bronze.
• Indonesia –
Indonesian Apriyani Rahayu They promised him five cowsa plot of land, a house and up to three kilos of gold, according to the press, after winning gold in the badminton doubles competition in Tokyo with her partner Greysia Polii.
Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said that they would also be able to enjoy the country’s best destinations for free.
• Philippines –
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, earning her a promotion to sergeant in the army.
The government and the private sector They offered him two properties.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino told AFP that he has awarded Olympic medallists with houses or land, using his own savings.
• India –
Indian Neeraj Chopra was met with a curious promise from a businessman when he became Olympic javelin champion in Tokyo: Free and unlimited flights with airline IndiGO, and an SUV, he said.
• Singapore –
Singaporean Joseph Schooling made his mark at the Rio 2016 Games by beating Michael Phelps in the 100-metre butterfly, which prompted Grab to reward him and his family with free travel for a year. He decided to share the prize with a blind masseur and a Paralympic swimmer.
Singapore Airlines He gave away a million ‘thousands’ to others.Z
