The traditional bonuses that the Brazilian Football team and the coaching staff receive from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) "will only be paid" if they win the Gold Medal at the London Games, according to Carlos Padeiro of UOL.com.br. The decision had been made before the team left for London. A Silver or Bronze Medal will not result "in a financial reward." Brazil faces South Korea Tuesday in the semifinal. The South Koreans will not be lacking incentives to win, either. The South Korean government "offered to waive the military service" to athletes who win a Medal at the Games. (UOL.com.br, 8/7).
BON APPETIT: The DPA reported that not only South Koreans who win a Medal at the London Games "will be exempted from military service but also Mongolians." The countries of Belarus, Bulgaria and Lithuania offer their Olympic Medal winners, besides bonus payments, "a life-long supply of sausages." The private sausage company behind the marketing idea said, "Of course we will consider the different tastes of the athletes." Instead of food, a "life-long supply of milk" waits for Nigeria's Medal winners (DPA, 8/7).
I WANT IT NOW: The PTI reported that Indian shooter and Olympic Silver Medalist Vijay Kumar "threatened to quit" his military service. The Indian Army is now "thinking of giving him a promotion and a cash reward" of up to RS 30 lakh ($54,000). The army is "expected to announce a reward of up to Rs 30 lakh once he is back from London" (PTI, 8/7).