Apart from
having a chance to write a new chapter in the history books, athletes at the
Olympics also stand to earn big cash rewards from their governments if they secure
a medal. Many countries use these rewards as an extra motivation for their
athletes to push themselves even harder at the Games.

For instance,
the US Olympics Committee has been rewarding athletes for standout performances
at the Olympics under its ‘Operation Gold’ programme since the 1994 Winter Olympics.
While money is not always what motivates athletes to excel at sports, it can surely
go a long way to keep them focused on the objective.

Also Read | What is the real worth of an Olympic medal? Read on

Here are
the world’s top nine nations in terms of cash rewards for Olympic medals:

10. Canada

Coming at
the tenth spot is Canada, whose athletes are in for a $16,000 reward upon
winning gold medals.

Gold: $16,000

Silver:
$12,000

Bronze:
$8,000

9. USA

The mighty
USA, which tops nearly every Olympic medal tally, comes in at ninth, awarding
$37,500 for each gold medal.

Gold:
$37,500

Silver: $22,500

Bronze:
$15,000

8. Japan

Japan comes
next, with a $45,000 reward for gold medal winners.

Gold:
$45,000

Silver:
$18,000

Bronze:
$9,000

7. Brazil

Brazil is
in the seventh spot, rewarding athletes with $49,000 for an Olympic gold.

Gold:
$49,000

Silver:
$29,000

Bronze:
$20,000

6. India

The Indian
Olympic Association (IOC) has set a cash prize of Rs 75 lakh (around $100,000)
for Olympic gold medallists and Rs 40 lakh and Rs 25 lakh for silver and bronze
medallists respectively. Additionally, state governments announce different
cash rewards for extra incentive.

Gold: INR
7,500,000 ($100,834)

Silver: INR
4,000,000 ($53,778)

Bronze: INR
2,500,000 ($33,611)

5. Hungary

Hungary is
fifth on the list, rewarding its athletes with $168,000 for Olympic gold
medals.

Gold:
$168,000

Silver: $126,000

Bronze:
$96,000

4. Italy

Italy is
fourth, with a $213,000 reward for Olympic gold medallists.

Gold:
$213,000

Silver: $107,000

Bronze:
$71,000

3. Malaysia

Malaysia
gives a higher reward than Italy for its gold medallists, but lower for silver
and bronze.

Gold: $236,000

Silver:
$71,000

Bronze:
$24,000

2. Kazakhstan

Kazakh athletes
are in for a cool $250,000 reward if they can manage to win an Olympic gold
medal.

Gold: $250,000

Silver:
$150,000

Bronze:
$75,000

1. Singapore

Singapore gives
the world’s biggest cash prizes for athletes winning Olympic medals. A
Singaporean gold medallist can become an overnight millionaire, given the
country pays nearly three-quarters of a million for each gold medal.

Gold: $737,000

Silver:
$369,000

Bronze:
$184,000