UCI president condemns World Athletics decision to pay prize at the Olympics, athletes disagree.

The decision by World Athletics to award prize money at the Paris 2024 Games goes against the Olympic spirit and solidarity among international federations, the head of cycling’s global governing body (UCI) s.

Athletics became the first sport to offer prize money to Olympic champions when WA president Sebastian Coe announced last week that gold medallists in Paris will each earn $50,000.

The decision took other international federations by surprise.

“We believe that this is not the Olympic spirit,” UCI president David Lappartient told reporters on the sidelines of the Paris Olympics torch lighting ceremony. “The proposal (by World Athletics) was not discussed. It was (announced) on the day of our mother organisation’s meeting. It should have been on the agenda,” he added. “The Olympic spirit is to share revenues and have more athletes compete worldwide. Not only put all the money on the top athletes but spread the money. “If we concentrate money on top athletes, a lot of opportunities will disappear for athletes all over the world.”

The announcement by WA was met with a positive reaction from the world’s leading athletes, with the $2.4mn prize pot to be split among the 48 gold medallists in Paris.

A total of $540mn was allocated to the 28 sports at the previous Games in Tokyo with World Athletics receiving the most at $40mn.

“We need to ensure we will have athletes tomorrow,” said Jean-Christophe Rolland, who heads World Rowing.

“I fully respect the WA decision as long it concerns athletes from their sport but at the Olympic Games it is not about your sport but all sports,” he said.

“I would appreciate it if we discussed us. This decision impacts not only athletes. It has other implications.”

 Athletes at the Team USA media summit this week in New York followed the latest development with interest.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m jealous,” said diver Andrew Capobianco, a silver medalist three years ago in Tokyo. “But I’m hopeful that, kind of, can move into all other sports, as well - that they’re the trailblazers for that. More money for Olympic athletes, especially the smaller sports, would be great.”

Sprinter Gabby Thomas said she appreciated the gesture.

“This is just done off of hopes and dreams and effort and a lot of people don’t have the same opportunity,” Thomas said of the mission to compete at the Olympics. “So, to see athletics making a difference in that way is remarkable. I can’t wait to see other sports follow suit.”