World Athletics will become the first international federation to award prize money at an Olympics, beginning at this year's Games in Paris, the organization announced Wednesday.
The gold medal winners in each of the 48 athletics events in Paris will receive $50,000.
While athletes are often paid by sponsors and the Olympic tradition of amateur competition has long since been consigned to history, the decision by track and field's international body to pay prize money represents a major shift for the Games.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.