Sports

World Athletics to award prize money at Olympics

Published

1 month ago

April 10, 2024

editor

World Athletics has announced it will become the first international federation to award prize money at the Olympic Games.

The global governing body said a total prize pot of $2.4m (£1.9m) has been made available for this summer’s Olympics in Paris, with gold medallists receiving $50,000 (£39,400).

This will be extended to silver and bronze medallists at Los Angeles 2028.

World Athletics president Lord Coe called the decision a “pivotal moment”.He told BBC Sport the organisation wanted to create a “stable financial landscape” for athletes.

There will be 48 athletics events in Paris, with relay gold medallists to share their prize money among the team.

The prize money will not apply at the Paralympics, which takes place from 28 August to 8 September, as Para-athletics is governed by World Para Athletics.

“The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medallists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognising the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games,” Coe said.

“While it is impossible to put a marketable value on winning an Olympic medal, or on the commitment and focus it takes to even represent your country at an Olympic Games, I think it is important we start somewhere and make sure some of the revenues generated by our athletes at the Olympic Games are directly returned to those who make the Games the global spectacle that it is.”

Greg Rutherford, who won gold in the long jump at London 2012, said: “This is a brilliant step in the right direction and I take my hat off to Seb Coe and the rest of the World Athletics staff for initiating this improvement.”

The former British athlete said the view that Olympic sports are still amateur “couldn’t be further from the truth”.

Asked if prize money went against the Olympic spirit, Coe replied: “I don’t see that making life a little easier for the athletes, allowing them maybe to stay on in the sport a little bit longer, to give them the financial independence to train, and maybe in a more sophisticated way is anything other than sitting behind good firm Olympic principles.”

World Athletics said the format and structure of prize money for the 2028 Games will be announced nearer the time.

It added that the payment of prize money will depend on athletes “undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures”.

Given the Olympics’ origins as an amateur sports event, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not award prize money but distributes funding through international federations (IF) and national Olympic committees (NOC).

Some national Olympic committees offer financial rewards to their medallists, though the British Olympic Association does not.

The IOC said: “It is up to each IF and NOC to determine how to best serve their athletes and the global development of their sport.”

(BBC News)

Sports

SLC increases player fees

Published

1 week ago

May 10, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is pleased to announce that player fees for all categories of Sri Lanka’s international players have been increased, with immediate effect.
Accordingly, 41 players will be offered new contracts under six categories, namely, A1, A2, B2, C1, C2, and ‘A’ Team.

The Test Match Fees is merit based
Under the latest raise, match fees for the Test format have been increased by 100 percent, while payments will be made on merit basis.

There will be different payment structures for a test match ‘won’, ‘drawn’ or ‘lost.’

ODI and T20I Match Fees
In the meantime, match fees for both ODI and T20I have been raised by 25 percent.

ICC rankers to be recognized
Sri Lanka Cricket also decided to recognize the players who become top-ranked in the ICC Player Rankings.

Accordingly, a player will be financially rewarded with a one-time payment if they become the ‘Best Batsman, Best Bowler, or Best All-Rounder based on ICC rankings, covering all formats.

In the meantime, if a player attains a ranking between 10th and 2nd place in the ICC rankings in the aforesaid categories, such players will also be recognized with a one-time payment.

Daily allowance and per diems
Additionally, daily allowances and per diems for all contracted players have been enhanced to provide better support during national team’s inbound and outbound engagements.

A decision by the SLC Executive Committee
This decision by Sri Lanka Cricket’s Executive Committee, headed by Mr. Shammi Silva, the President of the SLC, reflects the SLC’s commitment to supporting and valuing our national players equally across all formats.

The contracted players :
Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Lahiru Kumara, Nishan Madushka, Matheesha Pathirana, Kusal Janith Perera, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Pramod Madushan and Janith Liyanage

Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Nuwan Thushara, Sahan Arachchige, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dushan Hemantha, Lasith Embuldeniya, Binura Fernando, Shevon Daniel, Niroshan Dickwella, Ashen Bandara, Oshada Fernando and Avishka Fernando

Sports

SL squad for ICC T20 WC announced

Published

1 week ago

May 9, 2024

editor

The Sri Lankan squad for the ICC T20 World Cup has been announced.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be held in the West Indies and USA from June 01 – 29.

News

Fmr. Netball captain faces doping charges!

Published

1 week ago

May 9, 2024

nipuni

It is reported that a former netball captain has failed a random doping test conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA).

It is revealed that the player in question had taken Anabolic steroids.

Test results were issued to the Doping Control Laboratory in Qatar yesterday morning (May 08), and it has been confirmed that the athlete’s samples contained traces of this banned stimulant.

Speaking to the media, head of SLADA – Dr. Shiromi Pilapitiya has said that a probe is being conducted in this regard, and a statement will be issued today (May 09).

If the athlete is found guilty in the probe, she could face a ban from one to 04 years, reports say.