Diamonds and meatballs: The strange gifts Olympic medalists receive
From Diamonds to meatballs, here are some of the strangest gifts Olympic medalists have received at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games have made headlines worldwide, whether it was the Games themselves, the many controversies or just a few bizarre and hilarious moments.
Something that has drawn the attention of the public is the often strange gifts or awards Olympic medalists receive.
While the International Olympic Committee does not award prize money to winners at Paris 2024, many nations and territories offer incentives to their athletes to bring home gold, silver or bronze.
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Many are financial, but the rewards can be more eclectic - anything from exemption from compulsory military service to cars, cows, apartments, and even free food deliveries.
AFP Sport looks at some of what is on offer for gold, silver, and bronze around the globe:
South Korea
An Olympic medal of any colour grants athletes exemption from 18 months of compulsory military service, which all able-bodied males must undertake by the age of 28.
A gold at the Asian Games does the same, which star footballer Son Heung-min famously achieved at Jakarta in 2018 to avoid his spell in combat fatigues.
The country's six archers at the Tokyo Games, who claimed four out of five golds, were all given cars by Hyundai, who sponsor the team.
Poland
Gold medalists in individual events receive a cash prize of 250,000 zlotys ($63,000), a two-room apartment, a diamond, a painting, and a holiday voucher.
Silver and bronze medal winners are also generously rewarded with cash and other gifts.
Indonesia
Apriyani Rahayu and Greysia Polii, who won badminton women's doubles gold at Tokyo three years ago, were reportedly pledged rewards ranging from new houses from a property developer to meatball restaurants from a social media influencer.
According to state news agency Antara, the district head of her hometown in Southeast Sulawesi also promised Apriyani five cows, a plot of land, and a house.
Another report said state-owned enterprise PT Pegadaian promised to give the pair three kilograms of gold.
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Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said they could enjoy free holidays in the country's five premier tourism destinations.
Jordan
When athlete Ahmad Abu Ghaush won the country's first-ever gold medal - the men's 68 kg division in Taekwondo in Rio - the national Olympic committee gave him 100,000 dinars ($140,000) and his coach around half that.
Abu Ghaush also received many other rewards and gifts from local companies including a car and a luxury watch, while King Abdullah II awarded him the First Class Order of Distinction.
The Philippines
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz was rewarded for winning the country's first ever gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics by being gifted two properties and a promotion to staff sergeant in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Abraham Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, told AFP he had previously given medallists houses and land at his own expense.
Iraq
According to officials, Iraq's football players were each given more than nine million dinars ($7,200) and a plot of land for qualifying for the Olympics.
Weightlifter Ali Ammar Yasser received a car and a plot of land after qualifying for the Games, and has been promised a million dollars if he brings back the bronze medal or better.
Malaysia
Malaysia's first athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in Paris will not be going hungry, with one year's worth of free food orders promised by delivery and transport company Grab.
They will also receive a Chery SUV car as well as a luxury apartment from property developer Top Residency, the government said.
India
When Neeraj Chopra won javelin gold in Tokyo, he was promised unlimited free air travel for a year by airline IndiGo and a new seven-seater SUV by a businessman.
Singapore
After Joseph Schooling made history at the Rio Games in 2016 by beating the great Michael Phelps to 100m butterfly gold, the ride-hailing service Grab offered free transport for him and his family for a year.
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He shared the transport with a blind masseur and a para-swimmer.
Singapore Airlines contributed a million air miles, while the government awarded one million Singapore dollars ($750,000) for any gold medal.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong government gave Paris gold medal-winning fencers Vivian Kong and Cheung Ka-long lifetime travel tickets for the city's MTR subway system and promised the same to all other medalists.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club also gives individual gold medalists HK$6 million ($770,000).
Gymnasium chain Pure is offering lifetime memberships to all 35 Hong Kong athletes competing in Paris, and the territory's Cathay Pacific airline said it would give all medal winners free business-class travel for a year.
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