What Ugandan athletes will earn for podium finishes at the Paris Olympics

What Ugandan athletes will earn for podium finishes at the Paris Olympics

Festus Chuma 11:39 - 02.08.2024

Uganda has increases financial rewards for athletes who win medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics to boost performance and national pride.

Uganda has upped the ante for its athletes competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics offering significant financial rewards for those who bring home medals.

The announcement came during a visit by Sports Minister Peter Ogwang to the Team Uganda camp in the Games’ Village.

Engaging with athletes and team officials for over two hours Ogwang unveiled the lucrative reward scheme set for the upcoming games.

"The winner of the gold medal at these Olympic Games will get Shs100m (Ksh 3.4million). Previously, if you remember the tournaments in Birmingham, the winner got Ugshs50m (Ksh 1.7million)," stated Ogwang as per Daily Monitor.

The enhanced reward scheme does not just stop at gold medals.

Silver medalists will now receive Shs50m (Ksh 1.7million), a substantial rise from the Shs30m (Ksh 1.4m) awarded during the last Commonwealth Games.

Bronze medalists are not left out, with their prize being set at UgShs30m (Ksh 1.04million), up from Ugsh Shs10m (Ksh 348,000).

The move is seen as a response to the achievements of Ugandan athletes who have excelled in recent international competitions.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Uganda’s representatives, including standout performers like Peruth Chemutai, Joshua Cheptegei, and Jacob Kiplimo, collectively brought home four medals, enhancing the country's reputation on the global sports map.

“Gone are the days when sports used to be seen as leisure. Today, sports are a source of income, a source of employment. That’s why now you see the Kiplimos, Cheptegeis. They no longer run for leisure so that’s why," Ogwang added.

Beyond the immediate rewards, the Ugandan government is also addressing the athletes' long-term welfare.

Concerns about unpaid stipends have been vocal among the athletes, prompting a recent government pledge to clear the backlog.

“It is true we have been having a backlog of a stipend which we thought it wise that as a ministry responsible. Recently we had a meeting with Mama (Education and Sports Minister First Lady Janet Museveni) and a team from finance and I want to confirm that the senior minister has written, asking for additional resources so that we deal with handling the matters of stipends. We clear the backlog so that our children are happy,” Ogwang explained.

The announcement of these financial rewards comes as Uganda prepares for the upcoming events in Paris, with high hopes pinned on the 22 athletes representing the nation.

The spotlight is particularly bright on the men’s 10000m final, where Cheptegei aims to capture gold at the Stade de France, supported by Kiplimo and newcomer Martin Kiprotich.

Moreover, the commissioning of the Teryet High Altitude Centre in Kapchorwa on September 7 is set to further boost the training facilities available to Ugandan athletes, solidifying the country’s commitment to fostering sporting excellence.

This comprehensive approach—combining immediate financial incentives with long-term developmental investments—illustrates Uganda’s strategic push to become a formidable force in the international sports arena.

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