A Chinese athlete could certainly buy a lot of olive wreaths with the 200,000 yuan (US$24,162) the country will award to each of its gold-medal winners in Athens.

One myth that died well before the Athens 2004 Games is that the Olympics are for amateurs who will be content with the ancient Games' prize of an olive wreath.

Scores of nations are offering cash prizes to athletes who win medals.

China will give about US$24,000 to each of its athletes who takes a gold and will pay some US$15,000 for a silver and just under US$10,000 for a bronze. The US Olympic Committee offers similar amounts to its successful Olympians.

Gold brings about US$33,600 to a Polish athlete, some US$27,000 for a Japanese champ and about US$13,000 for a winning South Korean.

The French proudly announced that they would pay 40,000 euros (US$48,909) for a gold medal, duly noting that European rivals Germany would dispense a mere 15,000 euros (US$18,341).

Hosts Greece offer big rewards of 200,000 euros (US$244,548) for a gold, 150,000 euros (US$183,411) for a silver and 100,000 euros (US$122,274) for a bronze.

Then, there are those who are really going for the glory.

The Philippines know the odds are long for one of its athletes to win the nation's first gold and it will pay about US$143,000 to an Olympic champion. The Punjab government is offering some US$215,000 for a local gold medallist.

On the other hand, Medallists from New Zealand and other nations will walk away with a great deal of pride, but no cash bonus from their country.

Many sports associations in the various nations will offer their own bonuses - some of which will top US$1 million for gold-medal winners - on top of what their nation's Olympic committee will pay. Some nations reward their medallists with homes.

(China Daily August 13, 2004)