“NOC*NSF gives priority to talent development and guidance of top athletes, and well -prepared participation in international competitions,” says the Sportkoepel.
The medal bonus in Milan is 30,000 euros in gold. A winner of a silver slab gets 15,000 euros, bronze yields 7500 euros. A top athlete is entitled to a maximum of one bonus amount. Paralympians receive a bonus of 20,000 euros in gold.
Necessary choice
The difference between Olympic and Paralympic bonuses has become smaller in recent years. NOC*NSF says it has responded to developments in the Paralympic sport.
NOC*NSF calls the abolition of the bonuses a necessary choice. “We need to end the bonus system, especially for winners in sports where there are hardly any sponsorship contracts,” says André Cats, director of Topsport of NOC*NSF, on the website. “Many top athletes live on a minimum because they give priority to their top sport career. A stipend – a benefit that is related to their status as a athlete – is a modest amount.” Cats also mentions the contribution of appreciation.
Athletes committee not happy
Cats has been arguing for a good income provision for top athletes for years. “Top sport is a full -time profession for which you need to be rewarded in an appropriate way, so that you can provide for your livelihood. That also includes pension accrual.” NOC*NSF is discussing this together with the sports associations with, among others, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
The athletes committee is not happy with the decision. “We have been arguing for a better income position for all athletes, including pension accrual,” says Inge Janssen on the NOC*NSF website. “We also like to see an abolition of the income limit, so that athletes have more room to make money in addition to their stipendium. We are therefore in good conversation with NOC*NSF. The timing of this decision is therefore acidic, because there is yet no insight into concrete improvements of the income provision or paralympic and for more commercial possibilities.” ””