Olympics: Shs 185m cash for Paris gold

Uganda has won four Olympic gold medals in history; the first having come at the 1972 Games in Munich courtesy of John Akii-Bua and the latter two delivered by Joshua Cheptegei and Peruth Chemutai three years ago at the Tokyo 2020 edition.

The other gold came in London during the 2012 Olympics in London via Stephen Kiprotich’s marathon gold. All four medalists were later rewarded by the Ugandan government in various forms but no prize came from the International Olympic Committee beyond the gold medals round their necks.

But history will be made at the Paris 2024 Olympics after World Athletics declared that each track and field gold medal would receive a cash prize of $50,000 (Shs 185m).

World Athletics, which covers sports such as track and field, road running and race walking, declared that it had fenced off a total prize pot of $2.4 million (Shs 8.88bn) from a revenue share it receives every four years from the International Olympic Committee, opening up individual track and field athletes for a $50,000 (Shs 185m) payout if they secure a gold medal.

Realistically, the Ugandan athletes who will have a genuine go for gold are world 5,000 and 10,000m record holder Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo and Peruth Chemutai.

Uganda will send a team of 25 athletes to Paris. They will include 21 for track and field, a rower, a cyclist and two swimmers. The Olympics start on July 26 and will end on August 11 in Paris, France.