The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not provide cash prizes to winners at Paris 2024, but several countries are offering unique incentives to their athletes who win medals. Most countries give money as appreciation, but some also exempt from military service, give cars, cows, apartments, and even free food for a year. Here is a list of unique prizes given by countries to athletes who win Olympic medals.
South Korea
Any Olympic medal won by South Korean athletes will be rewarded with an 18-month exemption from military service. Military service is mandatory for all able-bodied men there who are 28 years old. During the 2018 Asian Games, footballer Son Heung-min received this privilege after the Taeguk Warriors won it in Jakarta. Then at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, six archers received Hyundai cars from the team’s sponsor.
Poland
Individual gold medalists in Poland were awarded 250,000 zlotys, a two-bedroom apartment, diamonds, paintings and holiday vouchers. Athletes who won silver and bronze medals were also given cash and other prizes.
Indonesia
Apriyani Rahayu and Greysia Polii, who won the women’s doubles badminton gold medal in Tokyo three years ago, reportedly received various gifts, ranging from a new house to a meatball restaurant from social media influencers. Apriyani was also promised five cows, a plot of land and a house by the regent of her hometown in Southeast Sulawesi, according to the Antara news agency.
Another report said that PT Pegadaian promised to give the women’s doubles pair three kilograms of gold. Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno offered free holidays to five of Indonesia’s top tourist destinations.
Jordan
When athlete Ahmad Abu Ghaush won his country’s first gold medal in the men’s 68kg taekwondo at Rio 2016, the national Olympic committee gave him 100,000 dinars ($170,000). His coach got about half of that. Abu Ghaush was also showered with awards and other gifts from local companies including luxury cars and watches, while King Abdullah II awarded him the First Class Order of Distinction.
Philippines
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz was rewarded for the Philippines’ first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics with two properties and a promotion to staff sergeant in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Abraham Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, told AFP that he had given houses and land to medalists at his own expense.
Iraq
According to local authorities, Iraqi footballers were each given more than 9 million dinars ($8,000) and a plot of land if they qualified for the Olympics. Weightlifter Ali Ammar Yasser was given a car and a plot of land after qualifying for the Olympics, and was promised $1 million if he brought home at least a bronze medal.
Malaysia
Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medallist in Paris has been promised free food for a year by ride-hailing and delivery firm Grab. The winner will also receive a Chery SUV and a luxury apartment from property developer Top Residency, the government said.
India
When Neeraj Chopra won the javelin throw gold medal in Tokyo, he was promised unlimited free flights for a year by airline IndiGo, and a new 7-seater SUV by a businessman.
Singapore
After Joseph Schooling made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics by beating Michael Phelps to win the 100m butterfly swimming gold, ride-hailing service Grab offered him and his family free transport for a year. Schooling then shared it with a blind masseuse and a disabled swimmer.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong government is giving lifetime free MRT passes to Paris gold medal fencers Vivian Kong and Cheung Ka-long, and has promised similar rewards to other medal winners. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is also giving HK$6 million to individual gold medal winners. Fitness chain Pure is offering lifetime memberships to all 35 Hong Kong athletes competing in the Paris Olympics. Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific will give all medal winners a year of free business class travel.
