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World Athletics to award prize money at Olympics

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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)

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SL athletes shine at Taiwan Open

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Sri Lankan athletes delivered strong performances at the 2025 Taiwan Open Athletics Championship, with Nadeesha Lekamge securing a silver medal in the women’s javelin throw and Chamod Yodhasinghe earning bronze in the men’s 100m sprint.  

Lekamge’s Season-Best Throw Secures Silver  

Nadeesha Lekamge recorded a season’s best throw of 56.62 meters, finishing just behind India’s Annu Rani (56.82m), who took gold. 

Lekamge’s performance highlights her consistent form ahead of upcoming international competitions.  

Yodhasinghe’s Speed Earns Bronze in 100m 

Chamod Yodhasinghe clocked 10.38 seconds in the men’s 100m finals, securing third place behind Australia’s Jiseph Ayoade (10.34s) and Japan’s Bruno Dede (10.36s). 

The Sri Lankan sprinter had earlier impressed in the heats with a 10.29-second run, showcasing his potential on the international stage.  

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Equipment given to non cricket playing schools in WP

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The Ministry of Youth and Sports today distributed cricket equipment to 30 selected schools in the Western Province that currently do not offer cricket.

The programme is done with the goal of ensuring that every child interested in cricket has the opportunity to pursue the sport, despite their economic status. It is also expected to be expanded to all districts in the future.

The distribution was held under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne at the Ministry premises.

Officials from the Ministry, principals, teachers, and students from the selected schools participated in the event.

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Ex- SL cricketer indicted for match-fixing

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The Attorney General has filed an indictment before the Hambantota High Court against former Sri Lankan cricketer Sachindra Madushanka Senanayake.

Senanayake faces charges of attempting to induce national cricketer Tharindu Hasanka Ratnayake into match-fixing during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) tournament in 2020.

The allegations include soliciting, inducing, or instructing the player in a manner that violates Section 5(a) of the Prevention of Offenses Relating to Sports Act No. 24 of 2019.

Senanayake is also said to have allegedly contacted two other cricketers participating in the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) tournament in 2020 via telephone from Dubai, attempting to persuade them to engage in match-fixing. He had previously been released on bail in connection with those allegations.

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