This Is A Bonus Guiran From Various Countries For Medal Winners At The Olympics

Tareg Hamedi, got a big bonus even though he only won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics (photo; x @Ali Abdelaziz00)

Legislative Hamedi, who used to be a diligent student athlete, has now become a national hero and billionaire after winning Saudi Arabia's second silver medal in a karate competition at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Olympic medals are rare for athletes from the Arab world, but for those who managed to climb to the podium, luxury prizes such as luxury cars, land, and significant bank balance improvements can be expected.

Although the sports world is still debating World Athletics' decision to award $50.000 to gold medalists at the Paris Olympics, athletes from the region could secure a much bigger pay if they win titles in France. In Tokyo, Hamedi failed to win his country's first gold medal in a controversial situation when he disqualified his opponent with an illegal high-kick in the final.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Hamedi was a gold medalist in the eyes of his country and the fighter was rewarded with 5 million riyals (Rp21.54 billion) promised to the Olympic title winner.

Providing a huge financial incentive to medalists is no stranger elsewhere - Hong Kong sword Cheung Ka Long pocketed 5 million Hong Kong dollars (Rp10.37 billion) for his Tokyo gold - but paid tribute to champions with a long history in the Arab world.

Olympic medalists can expect their names to be immortalized on roads, schools, and bridges, and not just oil-rich countries in the Gulf offering luxury prizes and prizes of money.

In Algeria, it is customary for the president of the country to honor Olympic champions with gifts ranging from luxury cars to apartments. The gold medal winner in Morocco received two million dirhams (Rp3.24 billion) while the Egyptian National Olympic Committee, in an agreement with sponsors, has raised the gold medal value to five million Egyptian pounds (Rp1.70 billion) for Paris.

The entire Iraqi national football team that recently qualified for the Paris Olympics received land plots and financial bonuses from the prime minister. Qatar has long used financial incentives to attract athletes from other countries to compete for the gas-rich country and the prize for medal success is considered generous, although not publicly disclosed.

Egyptian-born weightlifter Fares Ibrahim Hassouna changed his citizenship to win the first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021 in a move that Egypt's Weightlifting Federation did not accept. "They wasted money on him like a football club did to players," said chief federation Mahmoud Mahgoub at the time.

Indonesian Bonuses

Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo said bonuses for 2024 Olympic medalists have been prepared by the government and there is a trend of increasing numbers. Dito explained that the government will give bonuses to athletes who win medals at the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics. The government never forgets about this bonus.

"I make sure at the 2024 Olympics [there is a bonus]. Right, it is certain that every multi-event is for sure, Mr. President, the government will provide bonuses in the form of cash," said Dito at SCTV Tower.

In fact, said Dito, there is a scheme from the government for athletes who qualify for the 2024 Olympics to get awards. This could be material or welfare guarantees.

Untuk angka bonus yang akan diberikan, Dito belum bisa memastikan. Namun, dari tren yang terjadi, ada kemungkinan bonus Olimpiade 2024 akan meningkat dari edisi 2020.

"We can see the trend, how the 2023 SEA Games yesterday and the 2023 Asian Games yesterday, the bonus numbers are more than before," said the Minister of the Golkar Party. "So we will see the trend, definitely regarding the bonus we will ask for directions from the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo. And we hope this can break history at the 2024 Paris Olympics."

The issue of the budget provided by the government for the 2024 Olympics has been proposed. It's just that the figure has not been determined, because the number of athletes who qualify is still ongoing.