Winning big at the prestigious Olympic Games has its perks for athletes, as the incentives can be as generous as a lifetime pension
Winning an Olympic medal is undoubtedly the greatest recognition for athletes. Beyond the immense honour and prestige, this accomplishment often comes with significant financial rewards as well. From high cash prizes to lifetime pensions and luxury apartments, governments and sponsors offer a variety of attractive incentives to motivate athletes to strive for Olympic glory.
Here Tatler shortlists 7 territories that give the highest bonuses to Olympic winners. Hong Kong gives out the highest amount of prize money to athletes, followed by Singapore. Serbia and Malaysia not only offer substantial one-time bonuses to medal winners but also guarantee lifelong pensions starting at the age of 40 to protect athletes’ well-being after their competitive careers have ended.
1. Hong Kong: HK$6 million
According to the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme offered by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, individual gold medallists will receive HK$6 million, while HK$3 million and HK$1.5 million will be awarded to silver and bronze medallists respectively. In addition, the team winning the gold medal will receive HK$12 million, while HK$6 million and HK$3 million will be given out to silver and bronze team medallists respectively.
This year, fencer Vivian Kong topped the podium in the individual épée while Edgar Cheung Ka-long clinched the gold in the men’s individual foil event. Swimmer Siobhan Haughey bagged two bronze medals in women’s 200m freestyle and 100m freestyle.
News sources also reported that Cheung, who is an alumnus of Lam Tai Fai College, will earn an additional HK$3 million distributed by the school’s Outstanding Athletes Incentive Awards Scheme. In other words, Cheung, who won the Olympic gold medal for the second time this year, is expected to receive a total bonus of HK$9 million.