Diamonds, meatballs and motors: How Olympians can win more than medals

PARIS – While the International Olympic Committee does not give prize money to winners at the 2024 Paris Olympics, many nations and territories offer incentives to their athletes to come home with gold, silver or bronze.

Many are financial, but the rewards can be more eclectic – anything from exemption from compulsory military service to cars, cows, flats and even free food deliveries. See some of what is on offer for medallists around the globe:

South Korea

An Olympic medal, of any colour, grants athletes exemption from 18 months of compulsory military service, which all able-bodied males must undertake by the age of 28. A gold at the Asian Games does the same, which star footballer Son Heung-min famously achieved in Jakarta in 2018 to avoid his spell in combat fatigues.

The country’s six archers, who claimed four out of the sport’s five golds at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, were all given cars by Hyundai, which sponsors the team.

Poland

Individual gold medallists receive a cash prize of 250,000 zlotys (S$84,300), a two-room flat, a diamond, a painting and a holiday voucher. Silver and bronze medal winners are also rewarded with cash and other gifts.

Indonesia

Apriyani Rahayu and Greysia Polii, who won badminton women’s doubles gold in Tokyo, were reportedly pledged rewards ranging from new houses from a property developer to meatball restaurants from a social media influencer.

Apriyani was also promised five cows, a plot of land and a house by the district head of her home town in south-east Sulawesi, according to state news agency Antara.

Another report said state-owned enterprise Pegadaian promised to give the pair 3kg of gold.

Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said they could enjoy free holidays in the country’s five premier tourism destinations.

Jordan

When athlete Ahmad Abu Ghaush won the country’s first gold medal – the men’s 68kg division in taekwondo in Rio in 2016 – the national Olympic committee gave him 100,000 dinars (S$187,200) and his coach around half that.

Abu Ghaush also received many other rewards and gifts from local companies, including a car and a luxury watch.

The Philippines

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz was rewarded for winning the country’s first gold medal at the Tokyo Games by being gifted two properties and a promotion to staff sergeant in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Mr Abraham Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, told AFP he had previously given medallists houses and land at his own expense.

India

When Neeraj Chopra won gold in Tokyo in the javelin, he was promised unlimited free air travel for a year by airline IndiGo and a new seven-seater SUV by a businessman.

Iraq

According to officials, Iraq’s football players were each given more than nine million dinars (S$9,110) and a plot of land for qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

Weightlifter Ali Rubaiawi received a car and a plot of land after qualifying for the Games, and has been promised US$1 million (S$1.33 million) if he brings back the bronze medal or better.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s first athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in Paris will not be going hungry, with one year’s worth of free food orders promised by delivery and transport company Grab. They will also receive a Chery sport utility vehicle as well as a luxury apartment from property developer Top Residency, the government said.

Singapore

After Joseph Schooling made history at the Rio Games in 2016 by beating swimming legend Michael Phelps to 100m butterfly gold,

Grab offered free transport for him and his family for a year,

which he shared with a blind masseur and a para-swimmer.

Singapore Airlines chipped in with a million air miles and he received $1 million under the Major Games Award Programme.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong government gave 2024 Paris

gold medal-winning fencers Vivian Kong

and Cheung Ka-long lifetime travel tickets for the city’s MTR subway system, and promised the same to all other medallists.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club also gives individual gold medallists HK$6 million (S$1 million).

Gymnasium chain Pure is offering lifetime memberships to all 35 Hong Kong athletes competing in Paris, and the territory’s Cathay Pacific airline said it would give all medal winners free business class travel for a year. AFP