The Int'l Association of Athletics Federations has "announced a system of prizes and bonuses in which it will pay a total of $7.2M to medalists and top finishers" in each event of the World Athletics Championships, a nine-day event starting Saturday in Moscow, according to the AFP. The IAAF is also offering a bonus of $100,000 to any athlete "who establishes a new world record, but this prize will not be rewarded for tying a record." In individual events, Gold Medal winners will receive $60,000, with $30,000 and $20,000, respectively, awarded to the Silver and Bronze Medalists. Each athlete who finishes an individual event in the top eight will receive a reward, with eighth-place finishers receiving $4,000. For relays, Gold Medal-winning teams will receive a total of $80,000, Silver Medals will mean a reward of $40,000 and $20,000 prize will be the award for relay teams that win bronze. Eighth-place finishers in relays will receive a sum of $4,000 (AFP, 8/6).
WORLD RECORD BONUS: The $100,000 awards for those who establish world records will be provided by Japanese electronics company TDK (for men) and Toyota (for women). TDK has been the event's men's bib sponsor throughout the World Athletics Championships' 30-year history, and Toyota has been the women's bib sponsor since the '03 Paris World Championships (IAAF).
