P2.8 million for athletics gold in Paris Games

MANILA, Philippines — There are P2.8 million reasons that should make Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena more motivated to go for the gold medal in the Paris Olympics this July.

World Athletics, the governing body of track and field competitions, will reward the Paris Games gold winners a prize money worth $50,000, or a whopping P2.8 million.

It will be the first time that a monetary purse will be given directly to Olympic athletes in any sports in the quadrennial games.

In all, World Athletics will hand out a total prize pool of $2.4 million for the 48 men and women athletics events, which include Obiena’s discipline.