NEW YORK (AP) — They compete for a trophy, a ring, the chance to be called a champion and, sometimes, a place in history. Most of the world’s best athletes in all sorts of sports compete for cold, hard cash, too. After more than 100 years of striving to earn Olympic gold — but nothing else from the folks organizing the event — track and field athletes at the Paris Games will join that money-making club thanks to the sport’s governing body, World Athletics. In a first-of-its-kind development, the runners, throwers and jumpers lining up at the Stade de France in August will be trying to win a $50,000 check to go with the gold. It’s a novel — some might say overdue — concept that has athletes in other sports wondering if they can get a piece of that action. “I mean, who would want to turn down money, you know?” said artistic swimmer Daniella Ramirez, who is a junior at UCLA. |
I went on a 2,000Major changes coming to Qantas' frequent flyer programPerfect respite from eight million mopeds and motorbikes: Inside the Park Hyatt SaigonNato says Trump comments 'undermine all of our security'I cycled 625 miles around Taiwan without ANY training'We always hug before takeFrom the glamour of Cannes to arty hilltop villages: Inside ProvenceSacramento is now a sanctuary city for transgender peopleNature's the star at The Datai resort in Malaysia. But... beware the monkeys raiding the minibar!I took a trip on America's CHEAPEST cruise