An exceptional Games, an exceptional measure... On the occasion of the Council of the Olympic and Paralympic Games held Wednesday at the Elysee Palace in the presence of elected officials and members of the Government, Emmanuel Macron wanted an increase in the bonuses that will be paid to French athletes who win a medal at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In 2021 in Tokyo (Summer Games) and 2022 in Beijing (Winter Games), a gold medalist received 65,000 euros, a silver medalist 25,000 euros and a bronze medalist 15,000 euros. Bonuses that in 2024, the year of the Games at home, will increase significantly. If no amount is yet formalized, the increase should be between 5 and 15,000 euros. A gold medal should bring in 80,000 euros. Premiums will be taxable. It should be noted that the coaches' bonuses, set up since the Tokyo Olympics and which reward the coaches of medal-winning athletes, will be raised to the same height.
If the former Minister of Sports Laura Flessel had once evoked the ambition to win 80 medals at the Olympic Games, the figures have since been (largely) revised downwards. The Head of State evokes in particular the wish that the France, Olympic and Paralympic Games combined, finish among the 5 best nations in the world. This will require him to beat his medal record (42 Olympic medals, 31 Paralympic medals) and improve his gold medal quota, which is taken into account in establishing the ranking of nations.