Good news for Tanzania runners ahead of Paris Olympics

Dar es Salaam. Four Tanzania long distance runners will have to fight hard in the Paris Olympic Games following the decision of World Athletics (WA) to announce to award gold medallists $50,000 (Sh130 million).

So far, Alphonce Simbu, Gabriel Geay, Magdalena Shauri and Jackline Sakilu have secured qualifying marks for the Paris Olympic Games scheduled to start from July 26 to August 11, this year.

This is the first time for good news for Tanzania runners and others in the world as in the past the Olympic winners were not awarded cash prizes other than medals including receiving bonuses from their home countries.

The decision has inspired Tanzania female runner Magdalena Shauri, who said she would increase competitiveness in the event.

However, Shauri requested WA to split the amount into thrice for top three runners.

“It is good news, but WA have to understand that to award only the first winner $50,000 while the runner-up and the third finisher are getting nothing other than medals is not right.

Why should they not split it for the best three, with the winner getting the lion’s share?” Shauri queried. She said getting Olympic Games qualifying marks is not an easy task, calling on WA to consider that.

However, WA said the prize money will be extended to the winners of silver and bronze medals, starting from the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles

In total, WA’s prize pot for 2024 will amount to $2.4 million (Sh6.2 billion) for the various winners of the 48 men's and women's athletics events which include track and field competitions like the 100 metres, pole vault and javelin, alongside road races such as the marathon and race walking. Relay teams of four will split the winnings with $12,500 (Sh32.3 million) apiece, representing a major shift for the Games.

WA president Sebastian Coe said the decision reflected the efforts of track and field athletes "who attract billions of eyeballs" to the TV coverage of the Olympics.

"I don't believe this is remotely at variance with the concept that the International Olympic Committee often talks about, which is recognising the efforts that our competitors make for the overall success of the Games," Coe said.

He said WA had only informed the IOC of the prize money decision on Wednesday, shortly before the announcement, and there had been no discussion beforehand.

Asked if he felt the IOC should have been given more notice, Coe said: "It's a matter for the sport. The one thing the IOC has consistently recognised is the primacy of international federations to fashion their own futures."

The total prize fund of $2.4 million will come from the IOC's revenue share allocation that World Athletics receives every four years.

He said the prize money will be extended to the winners of silver and bronze medals from the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.