
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 12, 1993                   TAG: 9305120085
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From The New York Times and Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

OLYMPIC MEDALISTS TO BE PAID

The U.S. Olympic Committee is planning to offer bonuses of $15,000, and possibly more, to most American athletes who win gold medals at the next winter and summer Olympic Games.

The plan was formulated by the Athletes Support Committee and expected to be approved at the USOC board of directors meetings June 5-6. According to the four-year, $7.6 million plan, silver medalists will receive $10,000, bronze medalists $7,500 and fourth-place finishers $5,000.

In addition, American athletes will receive up to $5,000 for winning major international competitions, such as world championships, in non-Olympic years.

"For some, this will strictly be a reward," said Carol Brown, chairman of the support committee. "For others, who have borrowed money for their training efforts, they will have a chance at reimbursement against the loans they have."

The bonuses are based on projections that U.S. athletes will win 19 medals (six gold, six silver and seven bronze) at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, and 184 medals (90 gold, 41 silver and 53 bronze) at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

If, as the Olympics approach, it appears that these projections are too optimistic, the USOC might increase the bonuses for each medal, Brown said.

The Athletes Support Committee has recommended that the bonuses for highly paid tennis and basketball players go to the national governing body of the respective sports for youth development.

U.S. officials concede that the goal includes more medals - especially gold medals - for the United States.

"If this program doesn't produce more medals for the United States, then one of the functions of this program will have failed," said John Ruger, a former Olympic athlete and chairman of the USOC's athletes advisory council.

Meanwhile, for the first time since the ancient Olympics, Greece announced it will offer special privileges to athletes who perform well at the Summer and Winter Games. A state official said legislation will be submitted to give any athlete finishing first through sixth in an event at the Olympics some of the privileges enjoyed by the 300 members of the Parliament. They include the purchase of tax-free cars, preferential housing loans and guaranteed jobs at the Sports Ministry.

by CNB