By Xinhua,
Belgrade : Each Slovanian gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics will get 39,350 euros ($62,900 dollars), the Slovenian Olympic Committee has announced.
The committee said Tuesday that it would give away 20,000 euros ($31,980) for a gold winner while the remaining part would be contributed by the government.
A silver medallist would get a combined reward of 30,400 euros ($48,600), while a bronze taker would be rewarded with 21,450 euros ($34,300).
Individuals in team sports are also eligible for rewards, the only potential candidates being the men’s basketball team, which is playing at the ongoing qualifying tournament in Athens.
The Slovenian Olympic Committee will reward each player from the 12-man roster 10,000 euros ($16,000 dollars) if they win gold at the Olympics. The state will make a one-off 96,750 euros ($154,700) payout to the team.
Slovenia competed in the summer Olympic Games for the first time in 1992 at Barcelona. It was the first Olympiad after Slovenia seceded from Yugoslavia in 1991.
At least 61 Slovenian athletes will travel to Beijing for the Olympic Games.
The list of 41 men and 20 women may yet be expanded by 12 names if the men’s basketball team is successful at the ongoing qualifying tournament in Athens.
The committee also adopted in January a pay package for Slovenian medallists at the Olympic Games in a bid to increase incentives for top-flight athletes in the country.
Under the plan, gold at the Olympics would be worth 1,044.69 euros ($1,670), silver 783.52 euros ($1,253), and bronze 522.23 euros ($835), which will be paid from a special fund each month for four years.