‘Just doesn’t seem fair’ – One of Britain’s greatest Olympics stars SLAMS major change introduced for Paris 2024
SIR STEVE REDGRAVE has blasted the move to pay track-and-field stars who win gold medals at the Paris Olympics – arguing that it creates an unfair playing field.
World Athletics announced on Wednesday a “landmark decision” to give £40,000 ($50,000) bonuses to gold medallists within its sport this summer in the French capital.
For the LA 2028 Games, the governing body will set out a pay structure for all medallists – gold, silver and bronze – across the 48 events.
Some feel that it is about time the main stars are financially rewarded but it is unknown if other Olympic sports will follow this historic lead.
Former rower Redgrave – winner of five Olympics titles between 1984 and 2000 – told GB News: “Athletes that are training for the Olympics across all the sports are training professionally.
“Some of them do not get paid for doing that, as the era that I came through.
“They are training full-time, they are the entertainment elements of the Olympic Games, so the face of the Games.
“But I was surprised by athletics taking this move. It’s taking it to a different step. The problem is that most of the other sports won’t be able to follow this.”
Marlow-born Redgrave, who hung up his oars 24 years ago, continued: “The figurehead of the Olympic Games of all sports is athletics.
“They are the sort of the pinnacle of all the sports. But sports like mine – rowing or some of the combat sports – just won’t be able to afford to do the same thing.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER
“I’d prefer that money to be put into the development of the sport of maybe poorer nations within athletics, of being able to enhance them.
“They’re giving money to the gold medallist and I think what they’re saying is in four years’ time in LA, there will be money for silver and bronze.
“Athletics is so high profile that if you’re good enough and lucky enough to win a gold medal or medals in the future within athletics, you’re probably going to be able to earn endorsements, prize money, appearance money.
“There are 28 to 32 Olympic sports now.
“But then you’re giving the money to the people that are probably more capable of earning the money than in any other sport within the Olympic process and that just doesn’t seem fair.”
Double Olympic champion Seb Coe, 67, wants to “recognise the individual efforts of our athletes at an Olympics” and ensure they receive some of the cash that comes from mega TV deals.
There are certain sports that are more privileged financially than others
Sir Steve Redgrave
Redgrave, 62, added: “There are certain sports that are more privileged financially than others.
“But that’s the whole thing about the Olympics, everyone’s on a level platform from that and you’re making this into a two-tier process.
“Surely you can do something much better than giving those athletes that are probably earning much more than that already to other sports or developing your own sport.
“So have a little bit of lateral thinking. This is to me the wrong direction.”