Photo: IOC/Christophe Moratal
The door remains closed. Kirsty Coventry has stated her opposition to the idea of to pay athletes who participate in the Olympic Games in an interview with SportNationA debate had been launched, notably by Sebastian Coe and World Athletics, who had decided to award... Paris 2024 bonuses that holds the top spot. " I come from a small country. I come from a sport where athletes aren't necessarily very well paid, and I still believe that athletes shouldn't be paid at the Olympic Games. " insists Coventry.
The leader is in favor of other ways to support athletes, particularly through Olympic Solidarity scholarships. « We should find more ways tohave a direct impact on athletes and to provide them with concrete support on their journey to becoming Olympians, both while they are Olympians and when they are looking to transition to a new career. (…) I myself benefited from an Olympic Solidarity grant; without that money, I'm not sure I would have achieved the same success. And I am very grateful for it. That is why I want this model of solidarity to be felt throughout the entire Movement. »
She also warns that any system of remuneration for athletes would significantly alter the funding of Olympic Solidarity: If the whole Movement wanted us to change, we wouldn't have so many countries, so many sports, and we would be very demanding about what it would look like. I don't think that's what the Olympic Games are about. I don't think the Olympic Movement believes that this is what the Olympic Games are all about, and so we need to move things forward, and we need to do it in an authentic way and in a way that allows everyone to succeed. »
