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Canadian gold medalist Ethan Katzberg poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men’s hammer throw in track and field at the Olympics. /AFP
Diamonds, exemption from military service, apartments… the athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics may find themselves receiving the most rewards when they return home with medals, the delegation said.
Here is a list of the most unusual awards given to Paris Olympic athletes and others at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics:
Mexico
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that Mexico’s medalists would receive a financial reward financed by funds seized by the U.S. Justice Department from a Coahuila state politician accused of money laundering.
Colombia
In partnership with the Colombian Olympic Committee, Avianca will award miles to coffee medal winners: 100,000 miles for gold medalists, 50,000 miles for silver medalists and 30,000 miles for bronze medalists.
Hongkong
Hong Kong fencers Cheung Ka-long and Kong Man-wai, gold medal winners in Paris, received lifetime subway passes from the local government.
The Pure fitness chain is also offering unlimited subscriptions to 35 Olympic athletes from major Chinese cities so they can continue to “represent Hong Kong at the highest level”.
South Korea
Any Olympic medal won will guarantee South Korean athletes exemption from military service, a mandatory obligation for all active men in the Asian country for a minimum of 18 months.
The six South Korean archers who won four of the five gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics also received cars from sponsor Hyundai Motor Co.
Malaysia
Food delivery company Grab has pledged free delivery services for the athlete who won Malaysia’s first ever gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
As announced by the government, the winner will also be able to get a Chery brand SUV and a luxury apartment provided by developer Top Residency.
Poland
Also very generous were the rewards promised to any Pole who won an Olympic title in an individual event: a diamond, prize money of around €60,000, a two-bedroom apartment, a painting and a holiday voucher.
Other medal winners will also receive rewards, mainly prize money.
The president of the Polish Olympic Committee, Radosław Piesiewicz, recently declared: “I want our athletes (…) to be treated specially and uniquely.”
Iraq
Iraqi athletes who qualified for the Paris Games received a plot of land and about $7,200 in compensation, according to the IOC. They will also receive a monthly salary of 400,000 dinars ($300) from the government.
Weightlifter Ali Ammar Yasser received a car and a package after qualifying. The committee promised him a $1 million bonus if he returned from Paris with a bronze medal.
Indonesia
Indonesian player Apriyani Rahayu was promised five cows, a piece of land, a house and up to three kilograms of gold after winning gold with partner Greysia Polii in the Tokyo badminton doubles event, according to media reports.
They can also enjoy the country’s best destinations for free, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno declared.
Filipino
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, earning her a promotion to Army sergeant.
He was provided with two properties by the government and the private sector.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino assured AFP that he has rewarded Olympic medalists with houses or land from his own savings.
India
Indian Neeraj Chopra says he got a strange promise from a businessman when he became the Tokyo Olympics javelin champion: free unlimited flights on IndiGo Airlines and an SUV.
Singapore
Singaporean Joseph Schooling impressed at the 2016 Rio Olympics by beating Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly. Grab rewarded him and his family with a year of free travel. He decided to share the prize with a blind masseur and a Paralympic swimmer.
Singapore Airlines gave someone a million “thousands”.
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