After the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had resisted paying bonuses to athletes for decades, the IOC General Assembly in Lausanne initiated a paradigm shift last Wednesday and Thursday. In the future, the IOC will grant each Olympian a grant of 10,000 US dollars (around 8,800 euros). The IOC explains that this grant is intended to support a sporting career or the transition to a professional career after sport. For this purpose, the umbrella organization will in future provide a fund of 140 million US dollars (122.89 million euros) for each Olympic cycle. Those who took part in the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in February can also apply for this special bonus.
