World Athletics’ choice to award prize cash on the Paris Olympics goes in opposition to the Olympic spirit, says the top of biking’s governing physique.
World Athletics will grow to be the primary federation to supply prize cash at an Olympics this summer time.
Gold medallists in athletics occasions will earn $50,000 (£39,400).
“The Olympic spirit is to share revenues and have extra athletes compete worldwide,” UCI president David Lappartient stated.
“Not solely [to] put all the cash on the highest athletes however unfold the cash.
“If we focus cash on prime athletes, plenty of alternatives will disappear for athletes everywhere in the world.”
Given the Olympics’ origins as an newbie sports activities occasion, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) doesn’t award prize cash however distributes funding by worldwide federations (IF) and nationwide Olympic committees (NOC).
World Athletics’ transfer, which might be prolonged to silver and bronze medallists for the 2028 Video games, was broadly praised by former athletes when it was introduced by its president Lord Coe.
Requested on the time if prize cash went in opposition to the Olympic spirit, Coe stated: “I do not see that making life a little bit simpler for the athletes, permitting them perhaps to remain on within the sport a little bit bit longer, to offer them the monetary independence to coach, and perhaps in a extra subtle method is something aside from sitting behind good agency Olympic ideas.”
However on Tuesday Lappartient stated: “We actually consider that this isn’t the Olympic spirit.
“The proposal was not mentioned.”