Aussie Commonwealth Games gold medallists won’t get a single CENT for winning – while other countries pay their champions up to $36,000
- No Aussie athletes will receive prizemoney for medals at Commonwealth Games
- Rival nations such as India offer up to $36,000 for gold medal performances
- At the Olympics, Aussies who snare gold are given $20,000 in prizemoney
- Commonwealth Games run until August 8, Australia should win medal tally in UK
Australia’s gold medallists at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham won’t receive a single cent in prizemoney – unlike other competing nations who pay their champions as much as $36,000.
A spokesman for Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) confirmed there is no medal incentive scheme for Aussie athletes who finish first in individual or team events over the next fortnight.
It is in stark contrast to the Olympics, where Aussie athletes are given $20,000 for a gold medal triumph, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.
CGA chooses to spend their resources on investing in sports as opposed to financially rewarding athletes.
‘Our (CGA) funds – not government funds – provide significant investment into its member sports and individuals through those sports, as an investment targeting best performance,’ a spokesman said.
Australia’s gold medallists at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham won’t receive a single cent in prizemoney – including star swimmer at the Tokyo Olympics Emma McKeon (pictured, with boyfriend Cody Simpson)
It is in stark contrast to Indian hockey star Harmanpreet Singh, who could take home up to $36,000 if his nation wins gold at the Commonwealth Games in the UK
The organisation has invested $56million into its performance-based program dating back to 1996, according to News Corp.
Rival Commonwealth nations have a different focus, rewarding the bank balances of athletes if they grace the dais.
India’s gold medallists will be spurred on by the fact they are poised to take home the equivalent of $36,000, along with the equivalent of $18,000 for silver and $13,500 for bronze.
Bizarrely, Singaporean athletes snare $737 for winning gold – but they must invest 50 per cent of their winnings to their sport.
Elsewhere, Samoa’s gold medal stars will pocket $20,000, while Scotland’s winners receive a little over $17,000.
In South Africa, gold medallists earn just under $5000.
Jamaica, Canada and England are on the same page as Australia, only financially rewarding Olympic medallists.
While many Australian sports fans may feel the athletes should be financially rewarded at the Commonwealth Games, it would prove to be a very expensive exercise.
In the pool alone, Australia has been forecast to win 80 medals in Birmingham.
Across 21 sports, Australia has 430 athletes chasing gold medals until August 8.
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