As Paris gears up to host the 2024 Olympic Games, the world's attention is drawn not only to the thrill of competition but also to the evolving discourse surrounding the value of Olympic medals.
These cherished symbols of athletic prowess have sparked
debates about their monetary worth and the deeper significance they hold in the
annals of sporting history.
In contemplating the hypothetical scenario of Usain Bolt
replicating his iconic Beijing 2008 Olympic victories in Paris, the question
arises: What price could one attach to the three gold medals earned by the
Jamaican sprinting legend? Conversely, do the historic achievements of Jesse
Owens at the 1936 Berlin Games carry more weight than any monetary appraisal
could quantify?
Turning to Ghana's journey in the Olympic arena since its
debut as the Gold Coast in 1952, Ghanaian athletes and teams have clinched six
Olympic medals, each representing a chapter in the nation's sporting narrative.
From Clement 'Ike' Quartey's ground-breaking silver in boxing at the 1960 Rome
Olympics to the Black
Meteors' historic football bronze in Barcelona 1992, these
medals bear witness to important triumphs and struggles of the athletes on the
global stage. Can the monetary value assigned to these medals truly encapsulate
their significance in sporting history?
The allure of Olympic success is undeniable, with athletes
worldwide dedicating their lives to the pursuit of a dream – the opportunity to
compete on the grandest stage of them all.
Last week, track and field's international governing body,
announced a revolutionary plan to pay $50,000 in bonus to each gold
medal-winning athlete in the 48 track and field events at the Paris Games. The
President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, defends the move as a means of
recognising athletes' efforts.
However, critics warn of potential repercussions, fearing a
shift towards a pay-for-play model that could undermine the purity of Olympic
competition.
The debate extends beyond track and field, raising broader
questions about the commercialisation of sports and its impact on the Olympic
ethos.
The ground-breaking move will be a departure from 128 years
of Olympic tradition strongly championed by Pierre de Coubertin, the father of
the modern Olympic Games, who once warned against the “spirit of gain and
professionalism” and that professionalism essentially threatened the Olympics’
existence.
Against
the grain
The plan by World Athletics has been move logically welcomed
by many elite track and field stars, including the iconic Carl Lewis (now
retired), but many fear it would take away the real value of an Olympic gold
medal, one of sport's most treasured rewards, and even set a precedent that
would eventually take away the very essence of athletes working years just to
win an Olympic medal.
It has wider implications for the future than maybe envisaged
now; it threatens to put pressure on other international federations that may
not be very financially sound to offer medal bonuses to their athletes, and
possibly turn the purest sporting extravaganza into a pay-for-play competition.
Within the Olympic community, the latest move is rattling
purists who fear a potential eroding of the spirit of the Olympic Games and the
beautiful sight of equality in sport where a fencing gold medal, an equestrian
gold medal, a football gold medal and a 100m gold are all worth the same.
With the precedent set by World
Athletics, the main drivers and rewards of athletic brilliance could be purely
material — bonuses, prize money and medals — and may tragically set up
different values across different sports.
The Olympic Movement has long upheld
the principle of amateurism, but shifts in societal norms and economic
realities have prompted reconsideration.
Until 1986, the IOC’s Olympic Charter
restricted athletes competing in global events to amateurs, which meant they
were barred from making money through sports.
The potential ramifications extend beyond the realm of
sport, with the possibility of boycotts or breakaway competitions threatening
to undermine the unity and spirit of the Olympic Movement.
Ultimately, the true worth of Olympic medals transcends
monetary appraisal. They represent the culmination of years of dedication,
sacrifice and unwavering determination – a testament to the indomitable spirit
of the human athlete.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics,
epitomised by the inclusion of the star-studded American basketball players
such as Michael Jordan, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing
and others in the "Dream Team", marked a watershed moment in this
evolution, challenging traditional notions of amateur status and paving the way
for a more inclusive approach to Olympic participation.
The Olympics have essentially been
about outstanding athletic performance, incredible spectator experiences, and
as a platform to promote social inclusion and upholding wholesome values about
sports.
Yet, as the allure of monetary rewards
looms large, concerns mount about the integrity of Olympic competition. Will
the pursuit of prize money, rising athlete power and sponsors influence
overshadow the intrinsic values of excellence, respect, and friendship that lie
at the heart of the Olympic Games?
The monetisation of sports prizes
presents a delicate balance – offering opportunities for athletes while risking
the commodification of Olympic glory.
Source: Graphic Online