Paris Olympics 2024: international boxing body boss Umar Kremlev defends divisive prize money scheme despite IOC resistance
- International Boxing Association said it will offer prize money totalling US$3.1m to medal winners at the Paris Games
- The move has drawn criticism from the International Olympic Committee and is likely to widen rift between the two bodies
The International Boxing Association’s (IBA) plans to offer prize money to medallists at the Paris Games could widen the rift in the governance of amateur boxing after the announcement drew sharp criticism from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IBA’s move follows World Athletics’ announcement last month that they would offer US$50,000 in prize money to Olympic champions, starting in Paris this year.
The governing body’s announcement was met with criticism from the IOC, whose president, Thomas Bach, suggested that the federation should instead use its funding to support athletes across the board.
Despite the IOC’s disapproval, IBA president Umar Kremlev said World Athletics had made the right decision.
“For me, the spirit of the Olympic Games is to create the right conditions for athletes,” Kremlev told Reuters with the help of a translator.
“Athletes are the ones who attract sponsors and, of course, all the money should belong to the athletes. That’s the true spirit of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement. We know that is not what the IOC leadership does nowadays.