The Athens Olympics attracted a record 10,500 top athletes as countries all around the world continued to strengthen their competitiveness. Individual athletes found themselves facing unprecedented challenges as they pursued their dreams of gold.

Against this background, China's General Administration of Sports had promised rewards of up to 200,000 yuan (about US$24,000) for gold, US$14,000 for silver and US$9,700 for bronze medalists.

With competition intensifying, some gold medals will be more highly rewarded due to the importance of the events to the development of particular sports in China. Gold medals in track and field events and in swimming and tennis have been particularly rewarding.

Duan Shijie, vice president of the Chinese delegation said, "The country will give rich rewards to trail-breaking gold winners. This is because their success in breaking into new events will stimulate development in sports in which the country has not been traditionally strong. So of course, athletes like Luo Xuejuan (gold in women's 100m breaststroke), and Li Ting and Sun Tiantian (gold in women's tennis doubles), will be particularly well rewarded."

Apart from the rewards given at national level, the returning sports heroes can also look forward to cash bonuses from their individual provinces and municipalities. For instance at the provincial level, Yunnan is giving US$180,000 for a gold medal, in Guangdong the figure is US$30,000, in Sichuan US$60,000, and in Shaanxi US$120,000. In order to promote physical culture, Shanghai promised US$60,000, US$145,000 and US$217,000 to its medalists bringing back one, two and three golds respectively. And there's more for since the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, the Fok Ying Tung Sports Foundation has consistently given generous awards to China's Olympic Gold Medalists, currently a full kilogram of pure gold plus US$80,000 in cash.

The eventual financial benefits coming to a gold winner will amount to even more than these generous bonuses. Many domestic enterprises, companies and individual business-people have shown their willingness to encourage the athletes with gifts of villas and automobiles. Then there are the advertisements and product endorsements that can boost earnings several times over.

Take Liu Xiang, China's hurdling star who finished first in the 110-meters hurdles, matching the world record time of 12.91 seconds. He was given the honor of carrying China's flag at the close of the Athens Games. His total earnings may well exceed 5 million yuan or US$604,000 from his precious gold medal.

The final tally is not yet on the record, but here are some of the rewards already confirmed for the gold medallists: 

Name	Sports Event	State (US$)	Province and Municipality (US$)	Fok Ying Tung Foundation (US$)	Extra Bonus	Total Value (US$)
Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun	Canoeing	24,150		80,000	US$129,000 from the National Aquatic Sports Center	363,000
Zhu Qinan	Shooting	24,150	36,000-54,000	80,000	US$36000 from Wenzhou-based enterprises	242,000
Shi Zhiyong	Weightlifting	24,150	60,411	80,000		181,000
Wang Yifu	Shooting	24,150		80,000	A Zhonghua saloon car
Tian Liang	Diving	24,150	120,822	80,000		242,000
Yang Jinghui	Diving	24,150	66,452	80,000	An apartment worth US$120,822	302,000
Du Li	Shooting	24,150	60,411	80,000
Tang Gonghong	Weightlifting	24,150	75,000	80,000	US$24,165 from a land agent in Dalian City	242,000
Liu Chunhong	Weightlifting	24,150	60,411	80,000		157,000
Guo Jingjing      (two golds)	Diving	48,300	60,411	80,000	An apartment worth US$96,600	302,000
Zhang Ning	Badminton	24,150		80,000	A Zhonghua saloon car
Zhang Jiewen	Badminton	24,150	30,205	80,000		121,000
Yang Wei	Badminton	24,150	30,205	80,000		121,000
Zhang Guozheng	Weightlifting	24,150	181,234	80,000		302,000
Chen Yanqing	Weightlifting	24,150	24,165	80,000		121,000
Zhang Jun	Badminton	24,150	12,082	80,000		109,000
Chen Qi	Table Tennis	24,150	12,082	80,000		109,000

 (China.org.cn by Li Xiao, September 6, 2004)