The Olympics Games sit at the summit of the sporting world, where victory has the greatest meaning for athletes.
For sportsmen and women whose disciplines don't have the privilege of club competition and the fame and recognition that accompanies it, the Olympics are the only stage where they can truly make a name for themselves.
For many, just making it to the Olympics and being considered among the best athletes on the planet is an achievement in itself. For the more established nations, placing higher on the overall medals tally is proof of sporting excellence and a matter of national pride.
But do the athletes get anything other than medals, respect and recognition at the Olympics?
How much do Olympic athletes earn?
The Olympics started off as an endeavour for amateur athletes. That means athletes don't get paid match fees or receive appearance money for representing their countries.
However, things changed before the end of the last century. The Olympic Charter of 1986 welcomed "all the world's great male and female athletes to participate" irrespective of their amateur status. Soon after, basketball superstar Michael Jordan and other top athletes in the world began to turn up at the Games.
Now, stars like LeBron James compete alongside college kids. However, they are still not paid directly. Sponsorships and rewards from national Olympic bodies are what sustain many athletes through the Olympic cycle.
However, the rewards have increased substantially. USA Today conducted a survey and contacted the national Olympic committees of some countries to enquire about the rewards their athletes would receive at the Paris Olympics. According to the publication, the average amount the 25 respondents said they will pay their medal winners was $95,000 for gold, $55,000 for silver and $39,000 for bronze.
According to the report, nations like Malaysia, Morocco and Serbia have promised to give their gold medal winners more than $200,000, while those from the USA stand to receive $37,500 for gold in Paris, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze.
Are there any other rewards for Olympic athletes?
Track and field athletes at Paris are set to become the first set of Olympic participants to be rewarded directly by a governing body.
World Athletics has announced that gold medalists in Paris will receive prize money, becoming the first international governing body to do so.
A prize pool of $2.4 million has been set aside by WA to reward athletes.
Those who win gold in each of the 48 track and field events at the Summer Games will receive a reward of $50,000. The relay teams will receive the same amount, which will be shared among the athletes.
Later, the International Boxing Association announced it will offer prize money to all those who become Olympic champions and medalists at the Paris Games.
The body is, however, not organising the boxing tournament at the Olympics after it was stripped of recognition by the International Olympic Committee last year.
The IBA said it will award $100,000 to gold medalists, $50,000 to silver medallists and $25,000 for bronze.
Paris Olympics venues
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More on Quran memorisation:
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Sevilla v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad (7.15pm)
Eibar v Valencia (9.30pm)
Atletico Madrid v Alaves (11.45pm)
Sunday
Girona v Getafe (3pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7.15pm)
Las Palmas v Espanyol (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Deportivo la Coruna (11.45pm)
Monday
Malaga v Real Betis (midnight)
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
The five pillars of Islam
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
More coverage from the Future Forum
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
More on animal trafficking
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
