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Willa Wu

Hong Kong are believed to be handing out the most in Olympic prize money, out of any region, for medallists at the Paris Games, similar to the levels paid out by Singapore and Chinese Taipei for the Tokyo Games, according to various studies.
Hong Kong’s gold medallists, épéeist Vivian Kong Man-wai and foilist Cheung Ka-long, each bagged HK$6 million (US$767,990) for their remarkable exploits in the French capital, while swimmer Siobhan Haughey took home HK$1.5 million for each of her two bronzes.
The prize money is awarded by Hong Kong Jockey Club, which also offered HK$3m for any silver medallist.
Athletes who finish outside the top three but within the top eight will also receive prize money: HK$750,000 for a fourth-place finish and HK$375,000 for fifth to eighth.
The prize money offered to Hong Kong’s delegation for team-event medals is double those individual amounts, with gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded HK$12m, HK$6m and HK$3m, respectively.

Singaporean kitesurfer Maximilian Maeder, who stands on the cusp of winning the first medal in Paris – possibly a gold – for his country, could in fact be the athlete with the highest payout.
At Tokyo in 2021, a gold would have been worth S$1m (HK$5.89 million) but that amount is expected to have increased for Paris.
Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei said they would reward their lone individual gold medallist, weightlifter Kuo Hsing-Chun, with roughly US$716,000, making the region also among the most generous.
Chinese Taipei also claimed gold in the men’s badminton doubles and another five bronze medals in men’s shooting skeet, men’s horizontal bar, women’s lightweight boxing, women’s welterweight boxing and women’s 59kg weightlifting.

The award money granted by the US, which usually finishes top or near the top at the Games, is far less – athletes earn US$37,500 for every gold medal, US$22,500 for silver and US$15,000 for bronze.
Hosts France awards significantly more, with its gold medallists receiving €80,000 (US$87,627), €40,000 (US$43,900) for silver, and €20,000 (US$22,000) for bronze.
According to USA Today Sports, Serbia are the most generous among 23 countries surveyed: they give US$214,900 for gold medals, US$85,960 for silver and US$64,470 for bronze.
The Serbs are followed by Malaysia, who give US$212,180 to their gold medallists, US$63,654 to those on the podium’s second step and US$21,218 to bronze medal winners.
Australia are last on that list, with just US$13,340 awarded to gold medal winners.

However, spare a thought for the likes of triathlete Alex Yee, 800m runner Keely Hodgkinson or cross-country mountain biker Thomas Pidcock.
According to news outlet CNBC, Great Britain do not pay direct cash prizes to Olympic medallists at all.
Neither do countries such as Norway, Sweden and New Zealand and a handful of other countries. Which means Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who broke the world record in Paris after winning the gold medal, will earn nothing from his country.
But, as with most of the world-famous athletes, his rewards will come in other forms, such as incentive payments, sponsorships and endorsements.
Don’t miss any of our Olympics coverage. Download the SCMP app and enable alerts to enjoy 14 days of unlimited access: https://scmp.onelink.me/3586748601/n5wpq6pl


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: Hong Kong athletes top prize money charts, but British rivals get nothing

Along with the pride that comes with winning a gold medal, fencer Vivian Kong will also earn $HK6m in prize money. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long on the podium after winning the gold medal in the men’s individual foil. Photo: AP

Chinese Taipei weightlifter Kuo Hsing-Chun, who won the 59kg category, will receive about US$716,000. Photo: Reuters

Great Britain’s Alex Yee won the triathlon but will not receive financial rewards from his country. Photo: AP

Paris Olympics: Khelif-Liu, hello breaking, more China gold – 5 things to know for day 14

Imane Khelif is ready to take on China’s  Yang Lius in the women’s boxing 66kg final at the Paris Olympics. Photo: TNS

Max Maeder has the opportunity to become only the second gold medallist in Singapore history. Photo: Reuters

Chang Yani (left) and Chen Yiwen Chen celebrate their synchronised 3m gold, but are now rivals for the individual. Photo: Reuters

France players celebrate after their semi-final victory over Egypt. Photo: Reuters

Can any of the China’s breaking trio challenge for medal as the sport makes its Olympic debut in Paris? Photo: Xinhua

Paris Olympics: Hong Kong’s Lo Wai-fung eyes future taekwondo medals after lesson on debut

Lo Wai-fung of Hong Kong aims to outmanoeuvre Liang Yushuai of China during Thursday’s bout. Photo: Reuters

Thursday’s repechage bout takes place in the magnificent surrounds of Paris’ Grand Palais. Photo: Reuters

Liang Yushuai (left) and Lo Wai-fung tangle during their repechage bout. Photo: Reuters

Paris Olympics: Lin Yu-ting ready to give it everything in pursuit of Games glory

Lin Yu-ting is fighting to become the first woman to win boxing gold at an Olympics for Chinese Taipei. Photo: TNS  

Turkey’s Esra Yildiz makes a point after losing to Lin Yu-ting. Photo: TNS

Nesthy Petecio (left) and Julia Szeremeta get tangled up during their semi-final bout. Photo: Reuters

Paris Olympics: US’ Noah Lyles hushed up Covid positive to avoid giving ‘edge’ to rivals

Noah Lyles (far left) receives care from medical staff following the men’s Olympic 200m final. Photo: Reuters

Letsile Tebogo (left) wins the 200m ahead of Kenny Bednarek (second left) and Noah Lyles. Photo: Reuters

Noah Lyles sits on the track after finishing the 200m final at the Stade de France. Photo: Reuters

Lyles’ partner Junelle Bromfield is competing for Jamaica at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Reuters

Paris Olympics: formidable Spain aim to deny Thierry Henry’s France gold in men’s football

Les Bleus have been expertly led by the experienced Alexandre Lacazette (right) and his fellow forwards, including the bruising Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored the winner in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Argentina. Photo: AFP

Thierry Henry has succeeded in building a cohesive side despite several clubs refusing to release players. Photo: Reuters

Spain’s Junlu Sanchez (second left) celebrates with Fermin Lopez after scoring Spain’s winner in the semi-final against Morocco. Photo: AFP

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Hong Kong

Singapore’s Max Maeder and Chinese Taipei’s Hsing-Chun Kuo will also make a hefty sum – USA among countries that pay relatively little


Singapore’s Max Maeder and Chinese Taipei’s Hsing-Chun Kuo will also make a hefty sum – USA among countries that pay relatively little.


Vivian Kong Man-wai (江旻憓)

Cheung Ka-long (張家朗)